Biology and Ecology of Alchisme grossa in a Cloud Forest of the Bolivian Yungas

Abstract

Treehoppers (Membracidae) exhibit different levels of sociality, from solitary to presocial. Although they are one of the best biological systems to study the evolution of maternal care in insects, information on the biology of species in this group is scarce. This work describes the biology and ecology of Alchisme grossa (Fairmaire) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) in a rain cloud forest of Bolivia. This subsocial membracid utilizes two host-plant species, Brugmansia suaveolens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Wild) Bercht. & J.Presl and Solanum ursinum (Rusby) (both Solanaceae), the first one being used during the whole year and the second one almost exclusively during the wet season. The development of A. grossa from egg to adult occurred on the plant where eggs were laid. Maternal care was observed during the complete nymphal development, and involved behavioral traits such as food facilitation and antidepredatory defense. Life cycle was longer on B. suaveolens during the dry season and shorter on S. ursinum during the wet season. Mortality was similar on both host plants during the wet season but was lower on B. suaveolens during the dry season. The presence of a secondary female companion to the egg-guarding female individual and occasional iteropary is also reported.

Kin recognition in a subsocial treehopper (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

“…Cohorts included third-or fourth-instar nymphs as both instars display similar mobility, aggregation and behavioural patterns (Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014;D. Cohorts included third-or fourth-instar nymphs as both instars display similar mobility, aggregation and behavioural patterns (Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014;D.…”

“…This is indeed rare among species of the tribe Hoplophorionini (to which A. grossa belongs) as the whole tribe has been characterised as being strictly semelparous (Wood, 1993). Moreover, nymphs do not move between plants (Pinto, 2015), females return to their offspring after being relocated on the same plant (Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014), and only one female with its cohort of nymphs was present on any given plant at the moment of insect collection. Hence, the female observed guarding a nymph cohort is most likely its mother.…”

“…Nymphs then hatch and remain aggregated with their mother until they complete development, or at least until the third instar (Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2016). Additionally, mothers exhibit orientation towards their offspring, as they returned to their own egg mass after being relocated 60 cm within the same plant (Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014). Additionally, mothers exhibit orientation towards their offspring, as they returned to their own egg mass after being relocated 60 cm within the same plant (Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014).…”

Biology, ecology and demography of the tropical treehopper Ennya maculicornis (Hemiptera: Membracidae): relationships between female fitness, maternal care and oviposition sites

“…the female uses her ovipositor to make small perforations or slits around the egg mass which facilitate feeding by first-instar nymphs) (Lin, 2006;Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014). the female uses her ovipositor to make small perforations or slits around the egg mass which facilitate feeding by first-instar nymphs) (Lin, 2006;Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014).…”

“…For most subsocial treehopper species, maternal care lasts until the offspring reach adulthood (Godoy et al, 2006;Lin, 2006;Torrico-Bazoberry et al, 2014). By contrast, for gregarious treehopper species, maternal care lasts until mutualistic ants begin to attend the offspring (Perotto et al, 2002;Lin, 2006).…”