The outcomes of an ant-treehopper association on Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill: increased membracid fecundity and reduced damage by chewing herbivores

Abstract

A presença da associação formiga-hemíptero teve um impacto significativo sobre a redução da herbivoria por mastigadores na planta hospedeira.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Mutualismo, interação multi-trófica, associação formiga-Hemiptera, ......Solanaceae ABSTRACT -Interactions between ants and hemipterans (Auchenorryncha e Sternorryncha) are important to understand the impact of multitrophic relationships on arthropod diversity on vegetation. The present field study experimentally investigates the outcomes of a multispecies interaction involving four components: ants, hemipteran trophobionts (Enchenopa brasiliensis Strümpel, chewing herbivores, and host plant (Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill). The occurrence of temporal variation in the outcomes of the relationships was also investigated. Results showed that ants were benefited by a rich food source predictable in time and space, while membracids survived better under ant attendance. Ant tending also had a positive impact on treehopper fecundity. Presence of ant-hemipteran associations was demonstrated to benefit the host plant through a significant reduction in herbivory caused by chewing insects.

Mixed effects of ant–aphid mutualism on plants across different spatial scales

“…For example, the ecological effects of leaf-rollers can differ between leaf and plant scale (Vieira & Romero 2013;Wang, Marquis, & Baer 2012). On the host plant Solanum lycocarpum, the outcomes of ant-treehopper association are scale-dependent (Moreira & Del-Claro 2005). Multiscale experimental studies are still needed to evaluate the role of scale on biotic interactions (Sandel & Smith 2009).…”

Temporal Variation of Membracidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) Composition in Areas of Caatinga with Different Vegetation Structures

“…From these parts, they suck plant sap and release honeydew, which attracts ants, with which they establish biological associations (Moreira & Del-Claro, 2005;Fagundes et al, 2013). They have varying degrees of host selectivity (Creão-Duarte et al, 2012), and some species have gregarious habits, and may form colonies with a significant number of nymphs and adults (Wood, 1993).…”

“…Neotropical membracids have been predominantly studied from the taxonomic perspective and from the perspective of hymenopteras' mutualistic relationships (Moreira & Del-Claro, 2005;Fagundes et al, 2013). However, in studies surveying entomofauna they are always present (Yamamoto & Gravena, 2000;Hickel et al, 2001;Favretto et al, 2013).…”

Tending-Ants Increase Survivorship and Reproductive Success of Calloconophora pugionata Drietch (Hemiptera, Membracidae), a Trophobiont Herbivore of Myrcia obovata O.Berg (Myrtales, Myrtaceae)

“…By becoming more aggressive while protecting the associated Hemiptera, the ants attack and drive away anyone who comes close and reduce the occurrence of species such as the predators of Hemiptera and even the host plant (Way, 1963;Del-Claro & Oliveira, 2000;Rosumek et al 2009). This repellent effect is common to several plant-ant-Hemiptera systems (Buckley & Gullan, 1991;Cushman & Addicott, 1991;Moreira & Del-Claro 2005) but can vary with time and with the species involved in the interaction (Del-Claro & Oliveira, 2000;Billick & Tonkel, 2003). Protection against natural enemies is considered the main benefi t received by arthropods interacting with ants in mutualistic relationships (Rico-Gray & Oliveira, 2007).…”

“…Although well known for temperate regions and agricultural systems (Delabie, 2001), the interactions between ants and hemipteran are poorly known in the tropics due to the high diversity of involved species (Moreira & Del-Claro, 2005) and also for received attention in this issue only recently (Styrsky & Eubanks, 2006;Rosumek et al, 2009). Even though basically mutualistic, the trophobiosis may vary in time and type of ecosystem, and about the identity, abundance and behavior of the species involved, which results in differences in the outcomes of the interaction (Rico-Gray & Oliveira, 2007).…”