Table 1 Abbreviations and descriptions of five main morphological syndromes commonly encountered in parasite-induced ant phenotypes
Code | Syndrome | Description |
|---|---|---|
CU | Cuticle | Altered colour, thickness, pilosity or sculpture of the cuticle compared to healthy conspecifics |
IC | Intercaste | Morphology combining characteristics of two or more healthy castes of same species |
PG | Physogastry | Gaster enlarged or distended due to presence of a parasite |
PR | Proportions | Altered proportions of morphological structures (e.g., appendage length, head width) compared to healthy conspecifics of same caste |
SXR | Reduced sex characters | Reduction of gonads, ocelli, wings or thoracic sclerites in specimens otherwise corresponding to gyne or male morphology |