ant species; barcoding; biodiversity; Animal Science and Zoology
Abstract :
[en] We present the first record of the ant Pheidole megatronFischer and Fisher, 2013 in Rwanda, a species thought to be endemic to the Malagasy region. Specimens were collected in July 2019, in one of the houses located at Kivumu, in the center of Rwanda. They were first morphologically identified as Pheidole megatron using a recent identification key. Molecular identification through mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) confirmed the morphological identification. The Rwanda sample clustered with samples from the Comoros, and it belongs to the group megacephala. Future studies may focus on the biology and ecology of this ant species in Africa. Moreover, we suggest the screening of other African populations of Pheidole megacephala using finer genetic markers with higher mutation rates to clarify the identification and spread of the species.
Disciplines :
Entomology & pest control
Author, co-author :
Nsengimana, Venuste ; Université de Liège - ULiège ; Department of Mathematics Science and Physical Education, College of Education, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda ; Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management (CoEB), College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
Vanderheyden, Ann; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo), Brussels, Belgium
Gombeer, Sophie ; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo), Brussels, Belgium
Smitz, Nathalie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Génétique et physiologie des microalgues ; Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, Belgium
Meganck, Kenny ; Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, Belgium
De Meyer, Marc ; Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, Belgium
Backeljau, Thierry; Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, Belgium ; Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium ; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Scientific Heritage Service), Brussels, Belgium
Fisher, Brian L ; Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, United States
Dekoninck, Wouter; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Scientific Heritage Service), Brussels, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
First Record of the Ant Pheidole megatron Fischer and Fisher, 2013 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Rwanda
Acknowledgments — This research was funded by the Belgian General Directorate for Development and Cooperation, part of the Global Taxonomy Initiative within the framework of Capacities for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (CEBioS). The molecular analysis was done by the Barcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern (BopCo), supported by the Belgian Science Policy Office (Belspo) as part of the Belgian Federal in-kind contribution to the European Research Infrastructure Consortium LifeWatch. We thank the Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management (CoEB) based in the College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, for assistance during the writing and review of the manuscriptFunding declaration — This research was funded by the Belgian General Directorate for Development and Cooperation (DGD), part of the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) within the framework of Capacities for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (CEBioS). The molecular analysis was done by the Barcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern (BopCo), supported by the Belgian Science Policy Office (Belspo) as part of the Belgian Federal in-kind contribution to the European Research Infrastructure Consortium LifeWatch.
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