First Record of Trophobiotic Interaction between a Ponerine Ant and a Cicadelid Bug

Abstract

The interactions of the antOdontomachus bauriwith nymphs of the sap-sucking bugXedreota tuberculata(Cicadellidae: Ledrinae) were studied onSipaneaaff. (Rubiaceae) along a trail in an upland forest in the Ecological Reserve of Anavilhanas, AM, Brazil. Five complete interactions at day and at night (about 60 minutes) were analyzed. The care of cicadelid nymphs ranged between 12 and 961 seconds.

Natural History of the Neotropical Arboreal Ant,Odontomachus hastatus: Nest Sites, Foraging Schedule, and Diet

“…Tank bromeliads are reservoirs of arthropod diversity, and some of the preferred prey groups consumed by O. hastatus (e.g., flies, ants, spiders) are among the most frequent inhabitants of bromeliad leaf baskets, or in their vicinity (see Richardson 1999 ; Frank et al 2004 ; Gonçalves- Souza et al 2010 ). This contrasts with other tropical generalist ground—dwelling Odontomachus spp., which hunt preferentially on termites ( Fowler 1980 ; Déjean and Bashingwa 1985 ; Ehmer and Hölldobler 1995 ; Raimundo et al 2009 ).…”

“…Despite being regarded as mostly carnivorous, Odontomachus spp. also consume lipid— and protein—rich fleshy fruits on the ground of tropical forests and savannas ( Passos and Oliveira 2002 , 2004 ), as well as extrafloral nectar ( Blüthgen et al 2003 ) and insect honeydew ( Souza and Francini 2010 ) on foliage. Since it was not possible to accurately follow O. hastatus foragers on the forest canopy at night, it is not known whether the ants consume plant or insect exudates.…”

“…Odontomachus ants are well—known by their trap—jaws that are used to capture and kill prey ( Spagna et al 2008 ). Individual foragers usually hunt on a broad variety of invertebrates (e.g., Déjean and Bashingwa 1985 ; Ehmer and Hölldobler 1995 ; Raimundo et al 2009 ), but may also consume small vertebrates ( Facure and Giaretta 2009 ), plant and insect exudates ( Blüthgen et al 2003 ; Souza and Francini 2010 ), and nutrient—rich fleshy fruits ( Passos and Oliveira 2002 , 2004 ). Because visual access to arboreal ant foragers in the three dimensional forest canopy is inherently difficult, detailed studies on the foraging ecology of tropical ponerines have focused mostly on ground—dwelling species whose laden workers are easier to follow and their prey identified (but see for instance Dejean and Suzzoni 1997 ; Djieto-Lordon et al 2001 ).…”

Flower perianth: first observations on a novel diet item for the ponerine ant Odontomachus chelifer (Latreille)

“…Odontomachus were registered interacting with fleshy or arilate fruits (e.g., Pizo et al, 2005;Bottcher et al, 2016), as well as feeding on extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) (e.g., Schemske, 1982). There are also reports of Odontomachus using honeydew produced by phloem-feeding hemipterans (e.g., Evans and Leston, 1971;Souza and Francini, 2010). Here, we report on a new interaction of Odontomachus chelifer (Latreille) with plants: the active removal of flower perianth parts.…”

The response of an aphid tending ant to artificial extra-floral nectaries on different host plants

“…Many studies have shown that the carbohydrate-rich fluid from EFNs on plants may serve as a reward for ants, which in turn provide these plants with protection by predating on pest herbivores as a source of protein (Janzen 1966;Koptur 1992;Oliveira 1997;Heil and McKey 2003;Katayama and Suzuki 2003;Suzuki et al 2004;Byk and Del-Claro 2010;Souza and Francini 2010;Wilder and Eubanks 2010). As a consequence, both plants and ants benefit: plants get protection from pests and ants obtain food.…”