A novel relationship between ants and a leafhopper (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

European Journal of Entomology

Birgit C. SCHLICK-STEINER¹  Christian KOMPOSCH¹  Matthias SANETRA²  Werner HOLZINGER³  Florian M. STEINER³  Erhard CHRISTIAN⁴  Sylvie PAZOUTOVA⁴ 

[1] e-mail: [e-mail];e-mail: [e-mail];Institute of Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology, and Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, A-1180 Wien, Austria;Ökoteam - Institute of Faunistics and Animal Ecology, Bergmanngasse 22, A-8010 Graz, Austria;

关键词: araneae;    auchenorrhyncha;    ant-leafhopper relationship;    honeydew;    insect-insect interactions;    mutualism;    cicadellidae;    formicidae;    balclutha punctata;    calamagrostis epigejos;   

DOI  :  10.14411/eje.2004.090

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Ten ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from three subfamilies feed on honeydew excreted by nymphs of the leafhopper Balclutha punctata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). This relationship is facultative for the partners. Preliminary field observations suggest a mutualistic interaction that represents an intermediate stage in the spectrum of formicid-hemipteran mutualisms. Behavioural adaptations of the leafhopper (no escape reaction) and the ants (no predation of leafhoppers, protection from spiders) are evident, but characters of advanced facultative mutualism such as physical contact between the partners or ant-triggered excretion of honeydew were not observed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown