Comparative Studies of Perianal Structures in Myrmecophilous Aphids (Hemiptera, Aphididae)

Abstract

There are three types of relationships between aphids and ants: non-myrmecophilous, obligatory and facultatively myrmecophilous. The degree of involvement in this mutualism is believed to be corelated with morphological adaptations of perianal structures. In this manuscript, we analyzed the differences of these structures in obligatorily (18 species) and facultatively (10 species) myrmecophilous aphids. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light stereoscopic microscopy (LSM) techniques were used for these studies. Comparison of structures showed no strict relationship between their morphology and the degree myrmecophily, with certain indication that the microsculpture of perianal cuticle may play role in protection of aphids against honeydew droplet in facultatively myrmecophilous aphids.

Perianal Structures in Non-Myrmecophilous Aphids (Hemiptera, Aphididae)

“…5.1.025593 software and partly from SEM. The detailed measurements and ratios were established following the methods presented by Kaszyca-Taszakowska et al [ 1 ]. Also, for comparison of non-myrmecophilous and myrmecophilous aphids, the source data on perianal structures of 17 obligatory myrmecophilous and 12 facultatively myrmecophilous aphid species presented by Kaszyca-Taszakowska et al [ 1 ] were applied (Figure 7).…”

“…The detailed measurements and ratios were established following the methods presented by Kaszyca-Taszakowska et al [ 1 ]. Also, for comparison of non-myrmecophilous and myrmecophilous aphids, the source data on perianal structures of 17 obligatory myrmecophilous and 12 facultatively myrmecophilous aphid species presented by Kaszyca-Taszakowska et al [ 1 ] were applied (Figure 7). For statistical analysis of the obtained values, the Shapiro–Wilk test for distribution type was performed (with W = 0.9818 > W (α = 0.05, n = 54) = 0.957), and for the difference between the ratios, standard t -test was performed for unpaired samples, with p < 0.05.…”

“…Behavior on the ant-aphid line is customarily divided into mutualistic relationships (specified into obligatory and facultative ones) [ 1 ] and predation [ 2 , 3 ]. Ant-aphid interaction is a well-known model of mutualism: ants protect the aphids against natural enemies such as predators, ladybugs or lacewings, and parasitoids (e.g., Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae)) [ 4 ], and in return, they receive high-energy honeydew from the aphids [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…However, the review through facultative and obligatory myrmecophilous aphids [ 1 ] still did not resolve the problem of the existence of trophobiotic organs, as it was clear that both ways of engagement of aphids into mutualism with ants are correlated with long cauda and long perianal setae. Within the subfamily Aphidinae, the obligatory myrmecophilous aphids have even longer and more slender cauda than facultative ones.…”

“…We wanted to check if there are any differences in the morphology of perianal structures and microstructures that prevent or hinder the transfer of honeydew to an ant. We also tried to check whether there are differences in the structure of the perianal region between obligately and facultatively myrmecophilous [ 1 ] and non-myrmecophilous aphids, including generations living in galls.…”