Behavioral strategy of a lycaenid (Lepidoptera) caterpillar against aggressive ants in a Brazilian savanna

Bächtold, Alexandra; Alves-Silva, Estevão

doi:10.1007/s10211-012-0140-2

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Lycaenid larvae generally feed on plant reproductive parts, such as flowers and flower buds (Robbins & Aiello, 1982). However, despite the vast diversity of flora in Brazilian biomes, only recently the interactions among lycaenid larvae, their host plants, and mutualistic ants have been considered in ecological studies Kaminski et al, 2010a;Silva et al, 2011;Bächtold & Alves-Silva, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Camponotus blandus (Formicinae) and flower buds on the occurrence of Parrhasius polibetes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae)

Alves-Silva¹,

Bächtold²,

Barônio³

et al. 2013

Sociobiology

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In the Brazilian savanna, myrmecophilous lycaenids are often found in many shrubs feeding on plant reproductive structures while are tended by ants, but only recently the role of both ants and food on the occurrence of lycaenids have received attention. In this study, we investigated the influence of Camponotus blandus (Formicinae) and flower bud abundance on the occurrence of Parrhasius polibetes, a florivorous lycaenid species that occurs in Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae). We also examined to what extent larval florivory was deleterious to plant reproductive outputs. Ant-exclusion experiments revealed that most P. polibetes individuals were found on branches with free C. blandus access. Nonetheless, the occurrence of larvae was not related to the abundance of ants and flower buds, indicating that the presence, rather than the abundance of mutualistic ants and food, influenced the occurrence of P. polibetes. Larvae were attended by C. blandus, which antennated frequently the dorsal nectary organ of larvae. Larval florivory was not deleterious to the plant. Banisteriopsis malifolia produces thousands of buds simultaneously and larvae feed only on a small portion of flower buds. The occurrence of P. polibetes in B. malifolia is advantageous for the larvae, since this plant supports mutualistic ants and plenty of food resources.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Camponotus blandus (Formicinae) and flower buds on the occurrence of Parrhasius polibetes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae)

Alves-Silva¹,

Bächtold²,

Barônio³

et al. 2013

Sociobiology

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“…For myrmecophilous butterflies, associating with E. tuberculatum may be risky because these ants can either attend or prey on caterpillars (Ross ; Robbins ), especially the first stages when larvae are small (Bächtold & Alves‐Silva ). In contrast, Camponotus might either tend or ignore larvae (Bächtold & Alves‐Silva ). Therefore, in this case, the risk for caterpillars is lower and might be counterbalanced by the positive effect of ants in luring away natural enemies of the larvae (Kaminski et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Florivorous myrmecophilous caterpillars exploit an ant–plant mutualism and distract ants from extrafloral nectaries

2018

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Females of myrmecophilous butterflies tend to oviposit in plants visited by ant species that engage in stable associations with its larvae. In Banisteriopsis malifolia, caterpillars are attended by the same ants that feed on extrafloral nectaries. A conflict may arise when both the plant and caterpillars compete for ant attention, and ants are assumed to forage on the highest quality resource. By attending caterpillars, ants can be indirectly detrimental to plant fitness because florivorous larvae feed intensively until pupation. In this study, we specifically investigated (i) whether the occurrence of facultative myrmecophilous Synargis calyce (Riodinidae) caterpillars in B. malifolia was based on ant species (Camponotus blandus or Ectatomma tuberculatum) and abundance; (ii) the monopolization of ants by the butterfly larvae and (iii) the florivory rates incurred by the caterpillars on inflorescences. The abundance of S. calyce was six-fold greater in plants with C. blandus, compared to E. tuberculatum treatments. Caterpillars monopolized up to 50% of C. blandus on the plants, indicating that the resources offered by S. calyce were more attractive to ants than extrafloral nectaries. Florivory by riodinids incurred losses of almost 60% of flower buds. Myrmecophilous riodinids exploited an ant-plant mutualism by attracting aggressive ants that become larvae bodyguards. Thus, this ecological interaction is potentially detrimental to B. malifolia, since the ants, which can provide protection against herbivores, shift to provide defence for one of these herbivores.

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“…According to the results of this Other study showed that Dermaptera of genus Dorus are efficient herbivorous predators in corn monoculture (see Cruz 1991). Additionally, Buschman et al (1977) Some studies have shown that the result of ant-plant interaction is dependent of the species of predatory ants involved interaction (Byk & Del-Claro, 2010;Calabuig et al, 2015) and of the strategies of herbivorous against predation (Bächtold & Alves-Silva, 2013;Carita et al, 2006;Styrsky & Eubanks, 2010). Nevertheless, little is known about the behavior between pairs (predator-prey) determining plant protection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elements such as ant species features (Byk & Del-Claro, 2010;Calabuig et al, 2015), their density (De la Mora et al, 2015) and also herbivorous defense strategy against predation (Bächtold & Alves-Silva, 2013) however, some species may be more influenced than others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the absence of ants interfere in the arthropods abundance on corn plants (Zea mays L. - Poaceae)?

2017

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Alternative methods to reduce the chemical control in monoculture have been widely assessed in order to diminish the pesticide use. Thus, the efficiency of predator arthropods who work as population controllers in many agro-ecosystems has been tested. The current study aim to verify if the presence of ants interfere in the amount of arthropod herbivores and predators on corn plants, Zea mays L. (Poaceae). A total of 100 plants were assessed, out of them, 50 were isolated from ants and the other 50 were not. There were 25 taxa of arthropods on corn plants, in which 14 were herbivorous and 11 predators. The ants' free access to the plants negatively influenced the Diabrotica speciosa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) amount, which is an important herbivorous plague in corn monoculture. It was also observed the greater amount of Doru sp.1 (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) on plants containing ants. Considering the assessed plants, the presence of ants did not influenced the abundance of other arthropods. These results suggest that the ant-plant-herbivore interactions in corn monoculture is a complex system, and the presence of predatory ants in plants not always influence the presence of other arthropods. ResumoMétodos alternativos ao controle químico de pragas em monoculturas têm sido amplamente avaliados com o intuito de diminuir o uso de agrotóxicos. Neste sentido, a eficiência de artrópodes predadores que agem como controladores de populações nos mais diversos agroecossistemas vem sendo testada. Este estudo objetivou verificar se a presença de formigas interfere na abundância de artrópodes herbívoros e predadores sobre plantas de milho, Zea mays L. (Poaceae). Foram avaliadas 100 plantas, 50 isoladas de formigas e as outras 50 não isoladas. Foram observados 25 taxa de artrópodes sob plantas de milho sendo 14 de herbívoros e 11 de predadores. O livre acesso das formigas às plantas influenciou negativamente a abundância de Diabrotica speciosa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), um importante herbívoro praga da monocultura de milho. Nas plantas com formigas foi também observada maior abundância de Doru sp.1 (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), um importante inimigo natural de pragas em agroecossistemas. A abundância dos demais artrópodes não foi influenciada pela presença das formigas nas plantas avaliadas. Esses resultados sugerem que a interação formiga-planta-herbívoro em monocultura de milho é um sistema complexo, e que a presença de formigas predadoras sob plantas nem sempre interfere na presença de outros artrópodes.

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Behavioral strategy of a lycaenid (Lepidoptera) caterpillar against aggressive ants in a Brazilian savanna

Cited by 20 publications

References 46 publications

Influence of Camponotus blandus (Formicinae) and flower buds on the occurrence of Parrhasius polibetes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae)

Influence of Camponotus blandus (Formicinae) and flower buds on the occurrence of Parrhasius polibetes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae)

Florivorous myrmecophilous caterpillars exploit an ant–plant mutualism and distract ants from extrafloral nectaries

Can the absence of ants interfere in the arthropods abundance on corn plants (Zea mays L. - Poaceae)?

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