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Molecular phylogeny of two slave-making ants: Rossomyrmex and Polyergus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2002; Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board; Volume: 39; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

1797-2450

Eisuke Hasegawa, Alberto Tinaut, Francisca Ruano,

Insect and Pesticide Research

Using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), we established the phylogenetic relationship between two slave-making genera of the tribe Formicini: Polyergus and Rossomyrmex. The resulting phylogenetic tree presentstwo well-defined groups: Formica + Polyergus, and Proformica + Cataglyphis + Rossomyrmex. Our result contradicts prior classifications which considered Polyergus and Rossomyrmex to be sister genera. These results imply that slave-making in the two taxa evolved independently.