D3534: Chemical defense of arthropods and plants against ants

Ants are one of the most sophisticated and remarkable organisms in the insect kingdom. They are characterized by their precise organization of work and social structure. They are skilled and ingenious omnivorous or carnivorous predators. However, there are groups of arthropods that have evolved defenses to avoid ant attacks. Chemical defenses play a key role in these interactions and trophic linkages because ants are guided by chemical signals in their perception of their environment. An important strategy is to be able to avoid ant detection, where so-called propaganda and appeasement allomones are involved. The most studied strategy is imitating and impersonating an ant friend. This strategy of myrmecophiles and host ants also tends to be the most common. And last but not least is chemical crypsis. Chemical camouflage, chemical mimicry, repellent allomones, chemical mimesis, these are weapons that other arthropods can use to sophisticatedly combat one of the pinnacles of evolution, which the amazing ants undoubtedly are. In addition to the chemical defenses of other arthropods against ants, this presentation also provides an example of how plant chemicals influence ant behavior, thereby affecting different levels of trophic links and interactions.