1/2 We (re)rediscovered Manica parasitica in the Sierra Nevada. Originally, this ant species was thought to be a free-loading parasite that uses the nests and brood care of its host Manica bradleyi for its own survival.
Instead, "Manica parasitica" is tapeworm-infested Manica bradleyi.
2/2 We also confirmed the observation made by the Wheelers back in the '60s that Manica parasitica is really "shaky". Maybe this is an "adaptive manipulation" by the parasite?
Ant biologists thought the small, strangely-shaped Manica parasitica from the Sierra Nevada was a social parasite of another ant species, but the truth is even stranger.