Researchers have uncovered the clever strategies that parasitic crickets use to infiltrate and live among colonies of ants. Their study shows that these crickets exhibit behaviors like ‘distancing’ and ‘dodging,’ tailoring their evasive actions to the movements of the host ants. These insights reveal how socially parasitic crickets manage to coexist successfully within the challenging environment of ant colonies.
A team of researchers at Nagoya University in Japan, led by Ryoya Tanaka, has found advanced behavioral techniques that allow parasitic crickets to thrive in ant colonies. They observed how these insects skillfully avoid dangers in their host environment by employing precise evasion tactics. Their research, published in Communications Biology, highlights the impressive adaptations that enable these crickets to flourish despite their perilous surroundings.
Organisms that reside within ant colonies, referred to as “ant guests,” take advantage of their hosts’ resources. However, this behavior poses significant dangers, as ants are known to aggressively eliminate any intruders they detect.
The Myrmecophilus ant crickets utilize specific escape behaviors to dodge attacks from ants. Tanaka and his team focused on the behaviors of Myrmecophilus tetramorii, a “brood parasite” that survives inside ant colonies by feeding on deceased insects and ant larvae. Their study examined the actions that enable these crickets to flee from their hosts.
They identified two main types of responses: “distancing,” where crickets move directly away from ants, and “dodging,” where crickets execute a circular movement to position themselves behind the ants, thus avoiding their mandibles. They noted that during dodging, crickets maintained a greater distance from their hosts and moved more slowly compared to during distancing.
The researchers concluded that crickets choose to dodge when perceived threats are low, using distancing as a rapid defensive maneuver when they sense an immediate attack.
“Although distancing allows crickets to quickly escape from an approaching ant, such rapid movements might attract the attention of other nearby enemies, potentially leading to an aggressive pursuit by another ant,” Tanaka elaborated. “In most cases, the ant crickets relied on dodging to evade their host ants, with distancing being a relatively uncommon response.”
When analyzing crickets that had successfully integrated into the ant colony, the researchers found that these crickets did not move randomly but rather stayed near specific locations such as areas with accumulated debris, damp paper, or corners of the colony.
“Dodging behavior helps crickets remain in favorable areas while remaining cautious of ants,” Tanaka noted. “This unique dodging ability may allow them to maintain a secure position while avoiding a series of approaching ants, effectively lowering their risk of an attack.”
By cleverly choosing advantageous spots and employing both strategies, crickets can endure in the hostile setting of the ant colony. Tanaka expresses hope that his research will inspire more interest in the intriguing world of insects. “I often wander around the Nagoya University campus observing insects. I vividly recall the moment I saw an ant cricket skillfully eluding ants, even while surrounded by them,” he shared. “That experience completely captivated my interest in this behavior.”
