Tetradonematidae

Tetradonematidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Nematoda
Class:
Enoplea
Subclass:
Enoplia
Order:
Mermithida
Family:
Tetradonematidae

Tetradonematidae is a family of nematodes, most being endoparasites of arthropods. A species discovered in 2008 was found to alter the morphology of its ant host, apparently so as to make the ant resemble fruits leading to their predation by birds. The ants forage on bird droppings and are infected by the nematodes.[1] Some species infect the invasive ant Solenopsis invicta making them of interest in applied biological control.[2]

  1. ^ Poinar, G & Stephen P. Yanoviak (2008). "Myrmeconema neotropicum n. g., n. sp., a new tetradonematid nematode parasitising South American populations of Cephalotes atratus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with the discovery of an apparent parasite-induced host morph". Systematic Parasitology. 69 (2): 145–153. doi:10.1007/s11230-007-9125-3. PMID 18038201.
  2. ^ Jouvenaz, DP; DP Wojcik; MA Naves & CS Lofgren (1988). "Observations on a parasitic nematode (Tetraodnematidae) of fire ants Solenopsis (Formicidae), from Mato Grosso" (PDF). Pesq. Agropec. Bras. 23 (5): 525–528.