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<p>Interactions between ants and sap-feeding Hemiptera are ecologically significant and well documented in aphids, scale insects, planthoppers, but those involving psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) remain poorly understood. Old reports often consider ant–psyllid associations as rare, except for predatory interactions, but comprehensive data are lacking. This study evaluates whether these trophobiotic associations are genuinely rare or underreported. We combined a literature review, field observations and an analysis of 89,536 iNaturalist records, including&#xa0; 300 potential ant-psyllid interactions, to reassess their prevalence, specificity and ecological context. In total, our synthesis reveals that such interactions occur in at least 35 psyllid species (out of 4,200 described species), belonging to at least 23 genera in 35 countries, expanding previously known taxonomic and geographic representation. Ant attendance is best documented in a few European <i>Cacopsylla</i> and <i>Eryngiofaga</i> species, some Australian <i>Acizzia</i> spp. and some Oriental <i>Paurocephala</i> spp. Predation is probably very common but rarely documented photographically (iNaturalist). Most observations of ants tending psyllids involve species from Dolichoderinae, Myrmicinae and Formicinae. Interaction patterns indicate that ants were not species-selective in their associations with psyllids, a result corroborated by network analysis. In addition, immatures were observed being attended more frequently than adults. Morphological examination by scanning electron microscopy of four European psyllid species revealed no reduction of the circumanal rings, as reported from two Cameroonian <i>Diaphorina</i> species, nor any other traits specifically associated with ant attendance. Our study demonstrates that ant–psyllid interactions range from predation to active honeydew collection. These findings highlight the complexity of these relationships and underscore the need for further research to achieve a more comprehensive ecological interpretation.</p>

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Ant–psyllid interactions: rare or underreported?

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月7日

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  • M. Pramatarova,
  • D. Burckhardt,
  • I. Gjonov,
  • A. Lapeva-Gjonova

摘要

Interactions between ants and sap-feeding Hemiptera are ecologically significant and well documented in aphids, scale insects, planthoppers, but those involving psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) remain poorly understood. Old reports often consider ant–psyllid associations as rare, except for predatory interactions, but comprehensive data are lacking. This study evaluates whether these trophobiotic associations are genuinely rare or underreported. We combined a literature review, field observations and an analysis of 89,536 iNaturalist records, including  300 potential ant-psyllid interactions, to reassess their prevalence, specificity and ecological context. In total, our synthesis reveals that such interactions occur in at least 35 psyllid species (out of 4,200 described species), belonging to at least 23 genera in 35 countries, expanding previously known taxonomic and geographic representation. Ant attendance is best documented in a few European Cacopsylla and Eryngiofaga species, some Australian Acizzia spp. and some Oriental Paurocephala spp. Predation is probably very common but rarely documented photographically (iNaturalist). Most observations of ants tending psyllids involve species from Dolichoderinae, Myrmicinae and Formicinae. Interaction patterns indicate that ants were not species-selective in their associations with psyllids, a result corroborated by network analysis. In addition, immatures were observed being attended more frequently than adults. Morphological examination by scanning electron microscopy of four European psyllid species revealed no reduction of the circumanal rings, as reported from two Cameroonian Diaphorina species, nor any other traits specifically associated with ant attendance. Our study demonstrates that ant–psyllid interactions range from predation to active honeydew collection. These findings highlight the complexity of these relationships and underscore the need for further research to achieve a more comprehensive ecological interpretation.