Ants are among the most diverse, abundant and ecologically significant organisms on earth. Although their species richness appears to be greatest in the New World tropics, global patterns of ant diversity and distribution are not well understood. We comprehensively surveyed ant diversity in a lowland primary rainforest in Western Amazonia, Ecuador using canopy fogging, pitfall traps, baits, han...

Understanding the mechanisms that allow species coexistence across spatial scales is of great interest to ecologists. Many such proposed involve trade-offs between in different life-history traits, with distinct being expected be prevalent at varying temporal and scales. The dominance–discovery trade-off posits differ their ability find use resources quickly, contrast monopolize those resources...

Ant-plants have been extensively used as model systems in the study of evolution and ecology mutualisms. Using a 15N isotope labeling experiment, we found that both native ant mutualist (Philidris cordata) an invasive (Pheidole megacephala) provide nitrogen to Australian ant-plant Myrmecodia beccarii.

A new species of flanged bombardier beetles is described from Jiangxi and Sichuan, China, Paussus (Scaphipaussus) zhouchaoi sp. n. (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Paussinae, Paussini). All the type specimens were collected from colonies of the host ant Pheidole sp. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Important morphological characters of the new species are illustrated by color plates.