Source: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY submitted to NRP
THE GENETICS AND CHEMICAL ECOLOGY OF AN INVASIVE SOCIAL INSECT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0233658
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2013
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2018
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
(N/A)
BERKELEY,CA 94720
Performing Department
Insect Biology
Non Technical Summary
Invasive species are a serious threat to agricultural and economic security, and Argentine ants rank among the most damaging invasive species. We use techniques from genetics, genomics, chemical ecology, and behavioral ecology to gain insights into the mechanisms responsible for their invasive success, and to develop new tools for control. Our research provides insights into the origin and spread of this species, behavioral and genetic features that are responsible for its invasive success, and suggests control strategies based on the use of naturally produced pheromones.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2113110106025%
2113110113025%
2163110106025%
2163110113025%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3110 - Insects;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
In the coming years, we will continue to apply approaches from genetics, genomics, and chemistry to questions regarding the behavior, social structure, and evolution of Argentine ants. Morever, we will complement these studies with comparative analysis of the structure and function of nestmate recognition systems in non-invasive ants. Overall, our objectives are to: (1) Conduct experiments in the laboratory and the field to illuminate how learning and memory contribute to the formation of the colony identity in individual Argentine ant workers. (2) To experimentally test hypotheses for behavioral variation among nestmate Argentine ant workers. (3) Identify, synthesize and test cuticular hydrocarbons that are used by Argentine ants to distinguish nestmates from non-nestmates. (4) Develop and apply methods for functional genetic analyis of behavior and sensory biology in Argentine ants. (5) Identify pheromones that are used for recognizing different members of the colony (eggs, larvae, queens, etc) and that are used for different purposes (e.g. foraging trails, nest relocation trails).
Project Methods
The level of aggression between ants will be quantified using a standard behavioral assay (Holway et al. 1998; Suarez et al. 1999; Tsutsui et al. 2003). For each trial, we will either pair two focal individuals together, or test a single worker with five "tester" individuals (depending on the particular experimental protocol). Each bioassay will be performed in a neutral arena for five minutes and we will score interactions on a scale from 1 to 4: 1 = touch (physical contact, but no aggressive response; includes antennation and trophallaxis), 2 = avoid (after touching, one or both of the ants recoils and retreats), 3 = aggression (attack by one or both of the workers; includes lunges, biting and pulling of legs and antennae), and 4 = fighting (includes prolonged biting and pulling and the use of chemical defenses). Each behavioral assay will be assigned a score based on the highest level of aggression observed during the 5-minute time span. Ten to fifty replicates will be performed (depending on the experiment) and the level of aggression between will be calculated as the mean of these replicates. We will also perform statistical tests on the frequency of aggression (% trials in which aggression occurred). We have published numerous studies on Argentine ants that have used this behavioral assay to quantify aggression (e.g. Holway et al. 1998; Suarez et al. 1999; Torres et al. 2007; Tsutsui and Case 2001; Tsutsui et al. 2003; Tsutsui et al. 2000). Gas chromatography/Mass spectroscopy (GC/MS): To examine hydrocarbon profiles on the exoskeletons of ants, we will extract hydrocarbons from each sample in 10 ml of n-hexane for 10 minutes. We will separate hydrocarbons from other compounds by pipetting the extract through 4 cm of activated Sigma silica gel (70-230 mesh) in Pasteur pipet mini-columns. An additional 5 ml of clean n-hexane will then be passed through the silica gel. We will evaporate the resulting hydrocarbon extracts under a stream of nitrogen and redissolve them in 60ul of n-hexane for GC/MS analyses. A 3ul aliquot will be injected into the GC. We will perform the analyses on an Agilent 7890A GC equipped with DB-5, silica capillary column (30m x 0.32mm x 0.25micrometer) and an FID detector, operated in splitless mode. We will use helium as the carrier gas at 1 ml/min, and a temperature program of 2 min at 80C, to 270C at 20C/min, then to 310C at 3C/min (Suarez et al. 2002). Since the profile of Argentine ants consists largely of saturated hydrocarbons (Liang 2001), we will set up a method of Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM), narrowing the mass range scanned to the three ions 99, 113 and 127, which are highly specific for saturated hydrocarbons. Since each ion is scanned for a longer amount of time, this method is more sensitive than a full mass scan, and therefore yield cleaner profiles. We have previously used these techniques with great success (Brandt et al. In review; Suarez et al. 2002; Torres et al. 2007).

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists, academics, professional pest control operators and pest control organizations (state and national), growers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Santiago Ramirez, post-doctoral researcher, research on the history, genetics, and diseases of honey bees. Kaustubh Gokhale,post-doctoral researcher, genetics of ants. Elizabeth Cash,post-doctoral researcher, genetics and chemical ecology of ants. Jan Buellesbach,post-doctoral researcher, chemical ecology of ants. Joshua Gibson,post-doctoral researcher, genetics and behavior of ants. Maria Tonione,post-doctoral researcher, genetics and genomics of ant evolution. Virginia Emery, PhD student, research on the chemical ecology, genetics and behavior of Argentine ants and parabiotic ants. Kaitlyn Mathis, PhD student, research on the interactions between ants, parasitoid flies, and predatory beetles in coffee plantations. Rebecca Sandidge, PhD student, research on the spread of the invasive tropical fire ant , Solenopsis geminata. Tara Madsen-Steigmeyer, PhD student, research on the population genomics of the introduced Colorado potato beetle. Maria Tonione,PhD student, evolution and genetics of thermal tolerance in the winter ant. Kelsey Scheckel,PhD student, behavior and ecology of ant social parasitism. Brian Whyte,PhD student, social evolution in parasitic trematodes. Nina Pak,PhD student, evolution of salt tolerance in beach flies. Amelia Harvey,PhD student, interactions between invasive ants and bee pollinators. Judy Chung, undergraduate, performed analysis of ant pheromones Christian Cabuslay, undergraduate, studied ant biodiversity of Indonesia So Mi Cho, undergraduate, studied thermal tolerance of the winter ant. Kimberly Chen, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Shelley Pneh, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Blake Caracci, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Charlotte Knopp,undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Benjamin Malit,undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Viraj Sharma,undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Crystal Chan,undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Caleb Hwang,undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Marco Mora,undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Erin Griffin,undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Casey Kwok, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Stephanie Wu, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Ivonne Verduzco, undergraduate, studied fly evolution and phylogenetics. Kristina Dizon, undergraduate, studied fly evolution and phylogenetics. Jessica Maccaro, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. AlexandraCarey,studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Omi Richardson,studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Kien Nguyen,studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Katie Sanko, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Nao Yamamoto, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Junrun Chen, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Marisa Yang,studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Joie Lin, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Christian Irian, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. John Lau, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Emily Takeuchi, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Ali Setayesh, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Miranda Thoenen,studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Invited seminar speaker- Animal Behavior Seminar Series. UC Davis, Davis, CA. March. 2016. Plenary speaker.American Association of IPM Entomologists, Monterey, CA. "The behavior and social structure of ants", February. Invited symposiumspeaker- International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, FL, September. 2015. Invited speaker/panelist- Center for Population Biology mini-conference, UC-Davis. February. Invited seminar speaker- PERT Program/Center for Insect Science, U of Arizona. March. Invited speaker- Evolution of Organismality, St. Louis, MO. May. Invited speaker- Target Speciality Products, Sante Fe Springs, CA. June. Invited speaker- Target Speciality Products, San Marcos, CA. June. 2014. Invited seminar speaker- Department of Entomology, UC-Davis. January. Invited seminar speaker-Essig Brunch, Essig Museum of Entomology, UC Berkeley, April. Invited speaker- Target Speciality Products, San Jose, CA. June. Invited speaker- Target Speciality Products, Sacramento, CA. June. Keynote speaker-Pest Control Operators of CaliforniaExpo, Las Vegas, NV. June. Invited speaker- Invasion Genetics:The Baker and Stebbins Legacy, Asilomar, CA. August. Invited symposiumspeaker- Entomology Society of America, Portland, OR, November. 2013. Invited speaker- California Structural Pest Control Board, Sacramento, CA. January. Invited speaker- Entomology Society of America, Pacific Branch, Lake Tahoe, NV. April. Invited seminar speaker- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, April. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During the past year, we significantly advanced understanding of the fundamental biology of invasive and non-invasive ants. Objective 1. We performed manipulative experiments in the lab to clarify the processes of learning and memory in Argentine ants.We have published the results of this research in several papers, including Torres and Tsutsui (2016), Torres et al. 2018, and Felden et al. 2018. Objective 2. We continued to study behavioral variation among individuals within the same colony. We published a paper in PLoS One (Tsutsui and Emery 2013) that described the genetic and chemical (pheromonal) regulation of social behavior in a non-invasive ant species. Similarly, we published another paper (Tillberg et al. 2014) in which we analyzed the social structure of a primitive ant species. Objective 3. We have tested the role of cuticular hydrocarbons as the pheromone cues that control several different behaviors in the invasive Argentine ant. We have completed an experiment showing that we can control queen production in ant colonies by regulating the presence or absence of queen-specific cuticular hydrocarbons. We have also conducted an experiment quantifying the behavior of workers ants toward substrates treated with larvae-specific pheromones. We have published the results of our research on Argentine ant cuticular hydrocarbons in several papers, including Buellesbach et al. (2018) and Felden et al. (2018). We have also examine the role of CHC pheromones in the social behavior and evolution of several other species, as described in Torres and Tsutsui (2016), Emery and Tsutsui (2016)Mathis and Tsutsui (2016b, and 2016b), and Torres et al. (2018). Objective 4. We are still working on developing functional genetic tools for studying the behavior and sensory systems of Argentine ants, and hope that this researchwill produce a number of publications during the coming years. Objective 5. We have continued to advance our research project on the chemical ecology of social insects. We previously published a paper describing, for the first time, the trail pheromones of Argentine ants, and we are now planning tests to determine the efficacy of these pheromones in Argentine ant control. We have completed several studies identifying the specific pheromones that label queens and larvae in the colony, and we will be pursuing manipulative experiments with synthetic versions of these pheromones in the coming years.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Emery, V. J. and N. D. Tsutsui. 2013. Parallel nestmate recognition systems in a social symbiosis: Chemical phenotypes and nestmate recognition behaviors of Neotropical parabiotic ants. PLOS ONE 8(2): e56492.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Simola, D. F., Wissler, L., Donahue, G., Waterhouse, R.M., Helmkampf, M., Roux, J., Nygaard, S., Glastad, K.M., Hagen, D.E., Viljakainen, L., Reese, J.T., Hunt, B.G., Graur, D., Elhaik, E., Kriventseva, E.V., Wen, J., Parker, B.J., Cash, E., Privman, E., Childers, C.P., Mu�oz-Torres, M.C., Boomsma, J.J., Bornberg-Bauer, E., Currie, C., Elsik, C.G., Suen, G., Goodisman, M.A.D., Keller, L., Liebig, J., Rawls, A., Reinberg, D., Smith, C.D., Smith, C.R., Tsutsui, N., Wurm, Y., Zdobnov, E.M., Berger, S.L. and J. Gadau. 2013. Social insect genomes exhibit dramatic evolution in gene composition and regulation while preserving regulatory features linked to sociality. GENOME RESEARCH 23:1235-1247.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Lewis V., Moore, S., Tabuchi, R., Sutherland, A., Choe, D.-H. and N. D. Tsutsui 2013. Researchers combat the resurgence of bed bug in behavioral studies and monitor trials. CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE 67:172-178.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Torres, C. W. and Tsutsui, N. D. 2016. The effect of social parasitism by Polyergus breviceps on the nestmate recognition system of its host, Formica altipetens. PLOS ONE 11(2): e0147498.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Emery, V. J. and Tsutsui, N. D. 2016. Differential sharing of chemical cues by social parasites versus social mutualists in a three-species symbiosis. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY 42:277-285.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mathis, K. A. and Tsutsui, N. D. 2016. Cuticular hydrocarbon cues are used for host acceptance by Pseudacteon spp. phorid flies that attack Azteca sericeasur ants. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY 42:286-293.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mathis, K. A. and N. D. Tsutsui. 2016. Dead ant walking: A myrmecophilous beetle predator uses parasitoid host location cues to selective prey on parasitized ants. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, B 283:20161281.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Cridland, J., N. D. Tsutsui, and S. R. Ram�rez. 2017. The complex demographic history and evolutionary origin of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. GENOME BIOLOGY & EVOLUTION 9(2):457472. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evx009.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Cridland, J., S. R. Ram�rez, C. Dean, A. Sciligo, and N. D. Tsutsui. 2018. Genome sequencing of museum specimens reveals rapid changes in genetic composition of honey bees in California. GENOME BIOLOGY & EVOLUTION 10(2):458-472.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tsutsui, N. D. 2018. Strangers in a strange land: Biological Invasions and Animal Behavior (Book review). BIOSCIENCE 68(3):223-224.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tsutsui, N. D. 2018. Understanding the nature of ant cognition by studying ant cognition in Nature (Box). Animal Cognition, Nereida Bueno-Guerra, Federica Amici (eds). Cambridge University Press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Felden, A., C. I. Paris, D. G. Chapple, J. Haywood, A. V. Suarez, N. D. Tsutsui, P. J. Lester, and M. A. M. Gruber. 2018. Behavioural variation and plasticity along an invasive ant introduction pathway. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY 87(6):1653-1666. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12886
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tillberg, C.V, Edmonds, B., Freauff, A., Hanisch, P., Paris, C., Smith, C.R., Tsutsui, N. D., Wills, B.D., Wittman, S.E., and A.V Suarez. 2014. Foraging ecology of the tropical giant hunting ant Dinoponera australis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)  Evaluating mechanisms for high abundance. BIOTROPICA 46(2):229-237.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Torres, C. W., M. A. Tonione, S. R. Ram�rez, J. R. Sapp, and N. D. Tsutsui. 2018. Genetic and chemical divergence among host races of a socially parasitic ant. ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION. 8:11385-11398. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4547
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Buellesbach, J., B. A. Whyte, B., E. Cash, J. D. Gibson, K. J. Scheckel, R. Sandidge, and N. D. Tsutsui. 2018. Desiccation resistance and micro-climate adaptation: Cuticular hydrocarbon signatures of different Argentine ant supercolonies across California. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY 44:1101-1114.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Tsutsui, N. D. 2013. Dissecting ant recognition systems in the age of genomics. BIOLOGY LETTERS 9:20130416.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tsutsui, N. D. 2014. Controlling the spread of Argentine ants. VOICE OF THE PCOC. Fall:10-11.


Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists, academics, students (K12, college), professional pest control operators, pest control organizations (state and national), growers, citizen scientists, and public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Research, training, and professional development opportunities were provided for the following lab members during this reporting period: Joshua Gibson, post-doctoral researcher Elizabeth Cash, post-doctoral researcher Jan Buellesbach, post-doctoral researcher Rebecca Sandidge, PhD student Maria Tonione, PhD student Brian Whyte, PhD student Kelsey Scheckel, PhD student Nina Pak, PhD student Amelia Harvey, PhD student Jessica Maccaro, undergraduate student Ivonne Verduzco, undergraduate student Kristina Dizon, undergraduate student Katie Sanko, undergraduate student Marisa Yang, undergraduate student Ali Setayesh, undergraduate student John Lau, undergraduate student Emily Takeuchi, undergraduate student Miranda Thoenen undergraduate student Alexandra Carey, undergraduate student Omi Richardson, undergraduate student Kien Nguyen, undergraduate student Junrun Chen, undergraduate student Nao Yamamoto, undergraduate student How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have presented our research in three talks at international meetings (* indicated speaker). Neil Tsutsui*. Invited symposium speaker. "Cooperation within Supercolonies: Illuminating Argentine ant social structure using genomics and chemical ecology" International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, FL, September 2016. Maria Tonione*. "Adaptation and acclimation in a changing climate: integrating physiology, transcriptomics, and genomics of a thermal specialist" Society for the Study of Evolution meeting, Portland OR, June 25, 2017 Jan Buellesbach*, Thomas Schmitt, Juergen Gadau, Neil Tsutsui "From sex pheromones to nestmate recognition: Deciphering evolutionarily conserved signaling properties of cuticular hydrocarbons" Society for the Study of Evolution meeting, Portland OR, June 27, 2017 During the past year, we have also educated and communicated with tens of thousands of individuals through 26 outreach events for the public and elementary schools (listed below). Event name, location, date; SuperNatural Halloween, California Academy of Sciences, 10/28/16; Nightlife: Weird Science, California Academy of Sciences, 11/3/16; Bay Area Science Festival, AT&T Park, 11/5/16; Nightlife: Bitelife, California Academy of Sciences, 11/17/16; Nightlife: Star Wars, California Academy of Sciences, 12/1/16; Nightlife: How to, California Academy of Sciences, 1/5/17; Nightlife: Research Night, California Academy of Sciences, 1/26/17; Exploratorium After Dark: Sending Signals, Exploratorium, 2/2/17; Nightlife: Science of Sound, California Academy of Sciences, 2/9/17; Entomology careers outside of academia, Berkeley Entomology Club, 2/22/17; Nightlife: Academy Research, California Academy of Sciences, 2/23/17; Nightlife: Women in Science, California Academy of Sciences, 3/30/17; Nightlife: Academy Research, California Academy of Sciences, 4/20/17; Earth Day Festival with ROCK (Real Options for City Kids), Visitacion Valley Middle School, 4/21/17; Teaching: BASIS Smell me if you can, Lincoln Elementary School, 4/28/17; Teaching: BASIS Smell me if you can, Lincoln Elementary School, 5/5/17; Teaching: BASIS Smell me if you can, West Oakland Prescott School, 5/19/17; Teaching: BASIS Smell me if you can, Berkeley, 5/26/17; Nightlife: Academy Research, California Academy of Sciences, 5/25/17; Teaching: BASIS Smell me if you can, Lincoln Elementary School, 6/2/17; Nerd Night East Bay, 6/26/17; Nightlife: Academy Research, California Academy of Sciences, 6/29/17; Insect Fair: SF Zoo, SF Zoo, 8/12/17; Nightlife: Movement, California Academy of Sciences, 8/24/17; Nightlife: Academy Research, California Academy of Sciences, 8/31/17; Nightlife: Academy Research, California Academy of Sciences, 9/28/17 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Our research projects have been advancing on several different fronts. During the past year, we conducted a large-scale analysis of desiccation resistance in invasive Argentine ants, linking together how cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) pheromones regulate desiccation resistance while simultaneously serving as informational signals. We have conducted an analysis of CHC profiles across hundreds of ants from populations distributed throughout California, and are in the process of completing our data analysis. We have also been advancing our research using RNAi to silence genes important for chemical communication, in terms of both pheromone biosynthesis and pheromone perception. Finally, we have conducted several genome-wide analyses of honey bee (Apis mellifera) evolution and population genetics. We published the first of these analyses in 2017 - a global-scale analysis of honey bee relationships and evolution. We have recently completed a second part of this study looking more closely at honey bee populations in California, using genomic analysis of museum specimens to examine how these populations have changed through time.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Cridland, J., N. D. Tsutsui, and S. R. Ram�rez. 2017. The complex demographic history and evolutionary origin of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. GENOME BIOLOGY & EVOLUTION 9:457-472.


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists, academics, professional pest control operators and pest control organizations (state and national), growers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Kaustubh Gokhale, post-doctoral researcher, research on the genetics and chemical ecology of the Argentine ant. Rebecca Sandidge, PhD student, research on the spread of the invasive tropical fire ant , Solenopsis geminata. Maria Tonione, PhD student, research on thermal adaptation in the winter ant, Prenolepis imparis. Kelsey Scheckel, PhD student, research on the evolution and ecology of facultative slavemaking ants. Brian Whyte, PhD student, research on the organization and evolution of social structure in the invasive Argentine ant. Christian Irian,undergraduate, insect behavior and genetics John Lau, undergraduate, insect chemical ecology Emily Takeuchi, undergraduate, insect behavior Miranda Thoenen,undergraduate, insect behavior Gwyneth Tefft, high school student, insect behavior How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Plenary speaker. American Association of IPM Entomologists, Monterey, CA. "The behavior and social structure of ants", February. Invited symposium speaker - International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, FL, September. Instructor,Ant Course - Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, August 2016. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?One major accomplishment during the next reporting period will be the completion of our honey bee genomics projects. We will publish at least two papers during 2017 showing the history, evolution, and genetic relationships among honey bees in both their native (Old World) and introduced (United States) ranges. This information will be of immense value to growers and beekeepers in the US agricultural sector. We will also continue our ongoing research projects on the fundamentals of insect behavior, communication, evolution, and control. I will continue to disseminate the results of our research at meetings of professional societies, to industry professionals, and at outreach events.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have completed several studieson the behavior and chemical ecology of social insects, and published our findings in peer-reviewed journal articles. These findings advance our understanding of how insects communicate, evolve, and interact, which is fundamental to understanding and controlling damaging pest insects, in both agricultural settings and human structures.We have continued to perform research in the lab using genetic, genomic, and chemical tools to explore the evolution,ecology, and behavior of social insects. We are conducting functional genetic experiments in which we are manipulating theexpression of genes for fundamental biological processes in the invasive Argentine ant, and we have been using whole genomesequencing to analyze changes in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) in California during the past 125 years.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Torres, C. W. and Tsutsui, N. D. 2016. The effect of social parasitism by Polyergus breviceps on the nestmate recognition system of its host, Formica altipetens. PLOS ONE 11(2): e0147498.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Emery, V. J. and Tsutsui, N. D. 2016. Differential sharing of chemical cues by social parasites versus social mutualists in a three-species symbiosis. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY 42:277-285.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mathis, K. A. and Tsutsui, N. D. 2016. Cuticular hydrocarbon cues are used for host acceptance by Pseudacteon spp. phorid flies that attack Azteca sericeasur ants. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY 42:286-293.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mathis, K. A. and Tsutsui, N. D. 2016. Dead ant walking: A myrmecophilous beetle predator uses parasitoid host location cues to selective prey on parasitized ants. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, B 283:20161281.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists, academics, professional pest control operators and pest control organizations (state and national), growers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Kaustubh Gokhale, post-doctoral researcher, research on the genetics and chemical ecology of the Argentine ant. Rebecca Sandidge, PhD student, research on the spread of the invasive tropical fire ant , Solenopsis geminata. Maria Tonione, PhD student, research on thermal adaptation in the winter ant, Prenolepis imparis. Kelsey Scheckel, PhD student, research on the evolution and ecology of facultative slavemaking ants. Brian Whyte, PhD student, research on the organization and evolution of social structure in the invasive Argentine ant. Judy Chung, undergraduate, performed analysis of ant pheromones Christian Cabuslay, undergraduate, studied ant biodiversity of Indonesia So Mi Cho, undergraduate, studied thermal tolerance of the winter ant. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Invited symposium speaker - Entomology Society of America, Portland, OR, November. Invited speaker/panelist - Center for Population Biology mini-conference, UC-Davis. February. Invited seminar speaker - PERT Program/Center for Insect Science, U of Arizona. March. Invited speaker - Evolution of Organismality, St. Louis, MO. May. Invited speaker - Target Speciality Products, Sante Fe Springs, CA. June. Invited speaker - Target Speciality Products, San Marcos, CA. June. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have a number of manuscripts describing the results of our research that will be published within the next reporting period. I will also continue to disseminate the results of our research at meetings of professional societies, to industry professionals, and at outreach events.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have continued to perform research in the lab using genetic, genomic, and chemical tools to explore the evolution, ecology, and behavior of social insects. We are conducting functional genetic experiments in which we are manipulating the expression of genes for fundamental biological processes in the invasive Argentine ant, and we have been using whole-genome sequencing to analyze changes in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) in California during the past 125 years.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Scientists, academics, professional pest control operators and pest control organizations (state and national), growers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Kaustubh Gokhale, post-doctoral researcher, research on methods for controlling pest ants. Virginia Emery, PhD student, research on the chemical ecology, genetics and behavior of Argentine ants and parabiotic ants. Kaitlyn Mathis, PhD student, research on the interactions between ants, parasitoid flies, and predatory beetles in coffee plantations. Rebecca Sandidge, PhD student, research on the spread of the invasive tropical fire ant , Solenopsis geminata. Tara Madsen-Steigmeyer, PhD student, research on the population genomics of the introduced Colorado potato beetle. Judy Chung, undergraduate, performed analysis of ant pheromones Christian Cabuslay, undergraduate, studied ant biodiversity of Indonesia So Mi Cho, undergraduate, studied thermal tolerance of the winter ant. Kimberly Chen, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Shelley Pneh, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. Blake Caracci, undergraduate, studied ant chemical ecology and behavior. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Invited seminar speaker - Department of Entomology, UC-Davis. January 2014. Invited speaker - Target Speciality Products, San Jose, CA. June 2014. Invited speaker - Target Speciality Products, Sacramento, CA. June 2014. Keynote speaker - PCOC Expo, Las Vegas, NV. June 2014. Invited speaker - Invasion Genetics:The Baker and Stebbins Legacy, Asilomar, CA. August 2014. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue to apply our powerful, integrative approach to the study of social insect biology. We will combine approaches from genomics, functional genetics, chemical ecology and behavioral ecology in both field and lab settings.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? During the past year, we significantly advanced understanding of the fundamental biology of invasive and non-invasive ants. We have performed a number of experiments in the lab in which functional genetic manipulations (RNAi) are being used to silence genes that are important for fundamental functinons: pheromone production, dessication resistance, chemoreception and others. We are coupling these experiments to bioassays that quantify phenotypic consequences of gene silencing. We have also been performing whole-genome analyses of historically collected honey bees (Apis mellifera) to examine patterns of demographic and evolutionary change during the past century. We are also analysing pollen on these bees, quantifying stable isotopes, and screening these bees for pathogens and parasites. We have continued to perform studies that examine interspecific interactions between ant species, in the contexts of both parasitism (by phorid flies) and mutualism (cooperative colonies that are comprised of different ant species).

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tsutsui, N. D. 2014. Controlling the spread of Argentine ants. VOICE OF THE PCOC. Fall:10-11.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tillberg, C.V, Edmonds, B., Freauff, A., Hanisch, P., Paris, C., Smith, C.R., Tsutsui, N. D., Wills, B.D., Wittman, S.E., and A.V Suarez. 2014. Foraging ecology of the tropical giant hunting ant Dinoponera australis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)  Evaluating mechanisms for high abundance. BIOTROPICA 46(2):229-237.