BIOCHEMICAL-STUDIES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIALLY PARASITIC ANTS AND THEIR HOSTS

Analysis of enzyme patterns suggests close phylogenetic relationships between socially parasitic ants of the genera Harpagoxenus and Doronomyrmex and their Leptothorax hosts. Doronomyrmex goesswaldi and D. kutteri are indistinguishable in enzyme patterns from their host, Leptothorax acervorum. A newly discovered workerless parasite from Canada, L. paraxenus, however, appears to be more closely related to other non-parasitic species than to its host, L. sp.B (= L. canadensis?). The results are discussed with respect to current hypotheses on the evolution of social parasites.