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This virus is believed to persist largely as a chronic and asymptomatic infection but may become virulent and result in illness and colony death when ant colonies are stressed 10. This virus is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus that apparently only infects ant species in the genus Solenopsis 9. In this study, we tested whether reduced foraging activity or changes in macronutrient preference occur in the highly social fire ant Solenopsis invicta in response to a natural viral pathogen, Solenopsis invicta virus 1 (SINV-1). Whether similar defensive mechanisms involving illness-induced behavioral changes also occur in social insects, especially ants, remain ambiguous 7, 8. Studies of non-social insects have reported reduced feeding (anorexia) and changes in dietary macronutrient preference in pathogen-challenged individuals, both of which are associated with an enhanced ability to cope with pathogen infections likely via starvation of resident pathogens from essential macronutrients or trade-offs in energy allocation 6. Conversely, some pathogens have been reported to alter host behavior to favor their own transmission and enhance their replication and virulence 5.
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Both allo-grooming and secretion of antibiotic compounds are two often cited examples reported in social insects 1, 2, 3, 4. Social insects have evolved sophisticated defensive systems presumably as adaptive responses to pathogens commonly encountered because of frequent social contact. Potential implications of these behavioral differences for current management strategies are discussed. The findings also suggest a possible mechanism for how fire ant colonies respond to viral epidemics. These findings provide the first evidence for virus-induced behavioral responses and dietary shifts in shaping the host-pathogen interactions in fire ants. SINV-1-inoculated colony fragments consistently displayed reduced foraging performance (e.g., foraging intensity and recruitment efficiency), a decline in lipid intake, and a shift in dietary preference to carbohydrate-rich foods compared with virus-free fragments. Four food resources with different macronutrient ratios were presented to both colony fragments. Virus-free fire ant colonies were split into two colony fragments, one of which subsequently was inoculated with SINV-1. In the present study we examined if such reduced foraging activity exists for a social insect, the invasive fire ant Solenopsis invicta, and its viral pathogen, Solenopsis invicta virus 1 (SINV-1). Illness-induced anorexia and dietary changes are two behavioral defensive strategies found in some solitary insects, but little is known regarding the role of such behaviors in social insects, especially in ants. Despite the presence of conserved innate immune function, many insects have evolved a variety of mechanical, chemical, and behavioral defensive responses to pathogens.