Honeydew production and honeydew sugar composition of polyphagous black bean aphid, Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on various host plants and implications for ant-attendance

Abstract

Abstract. The black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, is polyphagous and its life cycle involves seasonal migration between summer and winter host plants. The aphids are regularly tended by honeydew-collecting ants. This study investigates whether differences exist in honeydew production and honeydew sugar composition for A. fabae subspecies feeding on various host plants and whether such differences reflect differences in the intensity of ant-atttendance ( Lasius niger).A. f. fabae feeding on the perennial summer host, Tanacetum vulgare, produced twice the amount of honeydew (ca. 110 µg per aphid . h -1

Differences in the sugar composition of the honeydew of polyphagous brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) feeding on various host plants

“…A study on whiteflies by Hendrix et al (1992) highlights the differences in sugar composition of honeydew excreted by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) feeding on different host plants. Many studies on aphids also confirm that the chemical composition of honeydew differs depending on the aphid species and host plant (Völkl et al, 1999;Fischer et al, 2005). In the present study, there were significant differences in the total sugar content of the honeydew of the scale insect feeding on the three different host plants.…”

Evolution of microbial markets

“…Individuals discriminate, choosing a partner based on differences in the price or quality of the commodity offered (24). Ants choose aphids producing the highest quality of honeydew and remunerate them with high-quality protection services (15,25). Similarly, in primate-mating markets, males that offer more grooming are rewarded with more mating opportunities (13,26).…”

First record of Poekilloptera phalaenoides found on Tachigali vulgaris (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) in southwestern of Goiás, Brazil

“…We also found, above the T. vulgaris, leafhopper individuals in a large number (ten or more), in both stages, mature and immature stage. Were also observed populations of ants feeding the honeydew, near the nectar, like they were protecting the leafhoppers (Del-Claro e Oliveira, 1999;Fischer et al, 2005;Styrsky e Eubanks, 2007;Paris e Espadaler, 2009).…”

“…phalaenoides Linnaeus, 1758 (Auchenorrhyncha: Flatidae) is a very important species in agriculture, because it is a common prague of Cassia, Delonix (Caesalpiniaceae), Cajanus, Dipterix (Fabaceae), Manguifera (Anacardiaceae), Annona (Annonaceae), Eucalyptus, Psidium (Myrtaceae), Rosa, Prunus (Rosaceae), Coffea (Rubiaceae), Citrus (Rutaceae), Theobroma (Malvaceae), Enterolobium, Pithecelobium, Inga, Albizia, Acacia (A. mangium) e Mimosa caesalpinieaefolia (Mimosaceae) (Maes 2004;Querino et al, 2007;Guimarães de Menezes et al, 2012). This species causes big damage, resulting in economic losses (Del-Claro e Oliveira, 1999;Fischer et al, 2005;Styrsky e Eubanks, 2007).…”

“…This honeydew is a stick substance that glues on leaves, branches and even on the ground (Maes, 2004). Querino et al, 2007 suggests that this substance obstructs the breath, transpiration and photosynthesis process and, probably reducing the vegetative growth, fructification and, consequently, the success of the reproduction process of the plant host (Del-Claro e Oliveira, 1999;Fischer et al, 2005;Styrsky e Eubanks, 2007;.…”