Cicadas "dig wells" that are used by ants, wasps and beetles

Abstract

Abstract. There is a high density of the cicada Cryptotympana facialis (Walker) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in urban parks in central Japan during summer. This cicada uses its stylet to pierce holes in the trunks of keyaki trees, Zelkova serrata and then feeds on the exuding xylem sap. Three ant species, Formica japonica Motschulsky, Lasius japonicus Santschi and Crematogaster matsumurai Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were observed aggregatively feeding on these exudates. In addition, two wasp species, Polistes jokohamae Radoszkowski (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), and Ampulex dissector (Thunberg) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) fed on the sap. These ants and wasps can therefore be classified as commensals. Two flower chafers, Protaetia brevitarsis (Lewis) and P. orientalis submarumorea (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were also observed displacing cicadas from their feeding sites and feeding on the exuding sap. Thus, these chafers can be classified as both commensals and kleptoparasites.

Arthropod vertical stratification in temperate deciduous forests: Implications for conservation-oriented management

“…In contrast, some sugar sources remain readily available to forest arthropods throughout the season. Sap flows, for instance, commonly develop on trees (especially old trees) in response to injury and are important resources for many arthropods (Elton, 1966, and references therein;Yoshimoto et al, 2005;Yamazaki, 2007). These are frequently colonized by fungi and other microbes and are breeding habitats for some insects (Elton, 1966).…”

Stem‐galling moths provide cetoniine beetles with feeding sites via sap exudation of invasive alien plants

“…Moreover, plant sap may be an important source of water and minerals during a hot summer. Cetoniine beetles are known to feed on plant sap that is exuded from holes made by cicadas during summer (Yamazaki ). In the present study, the cetoniine beetles fed on sap not only from gall openings made by gallers but also from wounds inflicted by themselves.…”

“…Plant sap, especially phloem and xylem sap, is an important food source for herbivorous insects such as Hemiptera and Thysanoptera (Chueng & Marshall 1973;Dolling 1991). Because plant sap is usually inaccessible for most insects, except floral and extra-floral nectar, they often access sap indirectly through honeydew that is excreted by Hemiptera (Delabie 2001) or via sap being exuded from wounds that are inflicted by abiotic physical damage or by various other organisms ranging from fungi to mammals, including humans (Wilson & Hort 1926;Ratcliffe 1970;Yoshimoto et al 2005;Yamazaki 2007;Yoshimoto & Nishida 2007;Rea & Lindgren 2009;Majka 2010).…”

“…The finding that cetoniine beetles exhibited both active and passive use of gall sap was unique, and the relative importance of both behavior remains to be examined. The plant sap from the galls that were fed on by the beetles appears to be a mixture of xylem and phloem sap with cytosol, as galler larvae damage both vessels and sieve tubes when feeding and making gall openings similarly as Yamazaki (), and the beetles crush the epidermal cells of stems.…”

“…The formation of the aggregations may be facilitated by the odors of damaged plants and beetles, as well as by visual cues. Cetoniine beetles often aggregate on fermented tree sap, rotten fruits, and flowers (Kurosawa ) and around cicada feeding sites (Yamazaki ). On the other hand, the reason why most galls were not used by the beetles remains unclear and needs future research.…”