Trophobiosis Between Formicidae and Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha): an Overview
TLDR
The main characteristics of 'Homoptera' and Formicidae which favor trophobiotic interactions, such as honeydew excretion by sap-sucking insects, ant attendance and physiological needs of both insects groups, are discussed.Abstract:
In this paper, the mutualistic relationship known as trophobiosis, which occurs convergently between ants and several groups of Hemiptera Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha (formerly 'Homoptera') is reviewed. The main characteristics of 'Homoptera' and Formicidae which favor trophobiotic interactions, such as honeydew excretion by sap-sucking insects, ant attendance and physiological needs of both insects groups, are discussed. Aspects of the convergent evolution are presented. The most archaic system is not trophobiotic per se, foragers collect the honeydew casually expelled on the foliage by individuals or groups of non-associated 'Homoptera'. The commonest trophobiotic relationships are facultative; therefore, this form of mutualism is extremely diversified and is responsible for a range of physiological, morphological and behavioral adaptations by the 'Homoptera', mainly Sternorrhyncha. The more differentiated trophobioses are true symbioses where the most extreme changes can be observed on the 'Homoptera' side. Meanwhile, the ants show mainly behavioral adaptations resulting from a long coevolutive process. Considering the situation of sap-sucking insects as main crop pests worldwide, implications of trophobiotic relationships are discussed in the context of insect communities, in general, and on the problems that imply to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in particular.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Protective ant-plant interactions as model systems in ecological and evolutionary research.
Martin Heil,Doyle McKey +1 more
TL;DR: Protective ant-plant interactions, important in both temperate and tropical communities, are increasingly used to study a wide range of phenomena of general interest and offer rich material for studying ant social evolution in novel contexts.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ecological consequences of interactions between ants and honeydew-producing insects.
John D. Styrsky,Micky D. Eubanks +1 more
TL;DR: It is argued that ant–hemipteran interactions are largely overlooked and underappreciated interspecific interactions that have strong and pervasive effects on the communities in which they are embedded.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ecology and evolution of aphid-ant interactions
TL;DR: This review uses aphid-ant interactions to illustrate the whole range of interactions from antagonistic to mutualistic as well as to identify the processes affecting the degree of association and in particular the context within which such interactions evolved.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ants on plants: a meta-analysis of the role of ants as plant biotic defenses
Félix Baumgarten Rosumek,Fernando A. O. Silveira,Frederico de Siqueira Neves,Newton P. U. Barbosa,Lívia Santos Diniz,Yumi Oki,Flávia Fonseca Pezzini,G. Wilson Fernandes,Tatiana Cornelissen +8 more
TL;DR: The results suggest that ants do act as plant biotic defenses, but the effects of their presence are more pronounced in tropical systems, especially in myrmecophytic plants.
Journal ArticleDOI
Contribution of cocoa plantations to the conservation of native ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a special emphasis on the Atlantic Forest fauna of southern Bahia, Brazil
Jacques H. C. Delabie,Benoit Jahyny,Ivan Cardoso do Nascimento,Cléa dos Santos Ferreira Mariano,Sébastien Lacau,Sofia Campiolo,Stacy M. Philpott,Maurice Leponce +7 more
TL;DR: The results demonstrate the importance of cocoa for ant conservation in the Atlantic forest region of Brazil, where cocoa plantations with relatively simple shade provide even more important habitat for ants generally and for ant species of conservation concern.
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Nutritional Interactions in Insect-Microbial Symbioses: Aphids and Their Symbiotic Bacteria Buchnera
TL;DR: It is argued that strong parallels may exist between the nutritional interactions (including the underlying mechanisms) in the aphid-Buchnera association and other insect symbioses with intracellular microorganisms.
Journal ArticleDOI
Mutualism Between Ants and Honeydew-Producing Homoptera
TL;DR: In this review, the term "mutualism" is defined as an association between ants and other insects which is mutually beneficial without neces sarily implying obligate dependence or interdependence.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Evolutionary Ecology of Ant-Plant Mutualisms.
M. V. Brian,Andrew J. Beattie +1 more
TL;DR: Beattie as discussed by the authors reviewed the natural history of ant-plant interactions, discussed the scientific evidence for the mutualistic nature of these relationships, and reached some conclusions about the ecological and evolutionary processes that mold them.
Book
The evolutionary ecology of ant-plant mutualisms
TL;DR: Professor Beattie reviews the fascinating natural history of ant–plant interactions, discusses the scientific evidence for the mutualistic nature of these relationships, and reaches some conclusions about the ecological and evolutionary processes that mold them.
Related Papers (5)
Ecological consequences of interactions between ants and honeydew-producing insects.
John D. Styrsky,Micky D. Eubanks +1 more