Behavioral, chemical and genetic evidence for a cryptic species complex in carpenter ants from the ivory coast

Behavioral, chemical and genetic evidence for a cryptic species complex in carpenter ants from the ivory coast | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 7 April 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Behavioral, chemical and genetic evidence for a cryptic species complex in carpenter ants from the ivory coast Authors : Marius Pohl , Tobias Laukamp , Marius Caspers , Selina Paczkowski , and Jan Buellesbach 0000-0001-8493-692X [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174404476.60067155/v1 234 views 117 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Species can diverge in ways that are not immediately apparent, and eusocial insects like ants can provide valuable insights into these evolutionary processes. Here, we present compelling evidence for the recent divergence of African Camponotus maculatus ant populations into two distinct cryptic species. Through an integrative approach combining chemical, behavioral, and genetic analyses, we identify two contrasting chemotypes characterized by distinct cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles. Aggression assays reveal that worker ants exclusively exhibit hostility toward individuals with opposing chemotypes, independent of colony affiliation. Genetic barcoding further corroborates these findings, indicating distinctive phylogenetic clusters. Our results highlight the primary role of chemical differentiation in species divergence within eusocial insects. CHC profiles likely diverged primarily under ecological selection pressures, maintaining species boundaries despite morphological similarities. These findings underscore the importance of integrating multiple taxonomic modalities to resolve cryptic species complexes and offer insights into the evolutionary mechanisms driving speciation in ants. Supplementary Material File (camponotus chemotypes cryptic species.docx) Download 111.49 KB File (fig 3.eps) Download 11.01 MB File (fig 4.eps) Download 11.79 MB File (fig 7.eps) Download 18.58 MB File (table 1.docx) Download 14.95 KB File (table 2.docx) Download 16.68 KB File (table and figure captions.docx) Download 19.78 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 07 April 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords aggressive behavior camponotus cryptic species cuticular hydrocarbons formicidae hymenoptera mtdna barcoding speciation Authors Affiliations Marius Pohl University of Münster Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity View all articles by this author Tobias Laukamp University of Münster Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity View all articles by this author Marius Caspers University of Münster Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity View all articles by this author Selina Paczkowski University of Münster Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity View all articles by this author Jan Buellesbach 0000-0001-8493-692X [email protected] University of Münster View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 234 views 117 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Marius Pohl, Tobias Laukamp, Marius Caspers, et al. Behavioral, chemical and genetic evidence for a cryptic species complex in carpenter ants from the ivory coast. Authorea . 07 April 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174404476.60067155/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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