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Cost and benefit of ant attendance for Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae) with reference to aphid colony size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Noboru Katayama
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan 657-8501
Nobuhiko Suzuki*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan 657-8501
*
2Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).

Abstract

Honeydew utilization by the ant Lasius niger L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), honeydew excretion cost for the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch, and ant protection service for aphids against the lady beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were examined in a laboratory. The duration of honeydew utilization by ants increased with increase in aphid density. The presence of ants shortened the residence time of the lady beetle larva on a plant and reduced the proportion of aphids eaten. At a density of 5 aphids per plant, one aphid with ants excreted honeydew at a frequency two times higher than that of an aphid without ants, but not at a density of 100 aphids per plant. Therefore, a larger aphid colony may increase the benefit and decrease the cost of ant attendance.

Résumé

Nous avons étudié, en laboratoire, l’utilisation du miellat par les fourmis Lasius niger L. (Hymenoptera : Formicidae), les coûts reliés à l’excrétion du miellat pour les pucerons Aphis craccivora Koch et le service de protection des pucerons assuré par les fourmis contre la coccinelle Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae). La durée d’utilisation du miellat augmente en fonction de la densité des pucerons. La présence des fourmis diminue la durée de séjour des larves de coccinelles sur un plant et réduit le nombre de pucerons consommés. À une densité de 5 pucerons par plant, en présence de fourmis, un puceron peut excréter son miellat deux fois plus rapidement qu’en l’absence de fourmis, mais pas à une densité de 100 pucerons par plant. Une colonie importante de pucerons peut donc augmenter les bénéfices reliés à la présence des fourmis et en diminuer les coûts.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2002

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