Mycocepurus ant and social parasite Figure. A queen of the social parasite Mycocepurus castrator standing on the host queen's back. The photograph was taken in a laboratory nest, set up at So Paulo State University in Rio Claro, Brazil in October 2008. The photograph was taken by Scott Solomon. - Mycocepurus goeldii is a fungus-growing ant species that was found to host a parasitic ant species called Mycocepurus castrator in southern Brazil - M. castrator was only found within nests of its host species and this location was in the center of the range of its host species M. goeldii - These two species are morphologically similar but distinct by M. castrator being smaller and more shiny than M. goeldii - Based on a molecular phylogeny it was shown that the parasite and host species are distinct lineages and reproductively isolated, but there is evidence of incomplete lineage sorting - Also, it seems like the parasite originated from within the range of the host species and the host and parasite are each others' closest relatives - Based on the different lifestyles of the species, it is likely they will have different evolutionary tendencies and fates isolated, but there is evidence of incomplete lineage sorting - Also, it seems like the parasite originated from within the range of the host species and the host and parasite are each others' closest relatives - Based on the different lifestyles of the species, it is likely they will have different evolutionary tendencies and fates.

1. Mycocepurus ant and social parasite Figure. A queen of the social parasite Mycocepurus
castrator standing on the host queen's back. The photograph was taken in a laboratory nest, set up
at So Paulo State University in Rio Claro, Brazil in October 2008. The photograph was taken by
Scott Solomon. - Mycocepurus goeldii is a fungus-growing ant species that was found to host a
parasitic ant species called Mycocepurus castrator in southern Brazil - M. castrator was only
found within nests of its host species and this location was in the center of the range of its host
species M. goeldii - These two species are morphologically similar but distinct by M. castrator
being smaller and more shiny than M. goeldii - Based on a molecular phylogeny it was shown
that the parasite and host species are distinct lineages and reproductively isolated, but there is
evidence of incomplete lineage sorting - Also, it seems like the parasite originated from within
the range of the host species and the host and parasite are each others' closest relatives - Based
on the different lifestyles of the species, it is likely they will have different evolutionary
tendencies and fates
isolated, but there is evidence of incomplete lineage sorting - Also, it seems like the parasite
originated from within the range of the host species and the host and parasite are each others'
closest relatives - Based on the different lifestyles of the species, it is likely they will have
different evolutionary tendencies and fates