Surviving in the Himalayas: A Story of Endurance in Ants

Abstract

The Himalayan Mountain system is a hotspot of biodiversity and harbors endemic flora and fauna. Different groups of organisms have speciated and proliferated in its abode. Ants of genus Myrmica are one such group whose diversification coincides with the formation of Himalayas. The species of this group are cold hardy and have adopted several survival strategies to cope with the harsh environmental conditions. The odyssey from egg to queen in Myrmica species takes about 1.5 years as these species must over-winter twice to complete its journey. Apart from their life cycle, these species form associations with other ant species residing in Himalayas, which are termed as social parasitism. From getting food from other ant species to raiding their nests for brood to manipulating worker force of host for its well-being are some of the associations observed in these Himalayan ants. A detailed account of natural history of Himalayan Myrmica species is provided herewith.