<p>Many hemipteran species are phytophagous, feeding on plant sap. This is true of the family Membracidae, many species of which engage in mutualistic interactions with ants, providing them with honeydew in exchange for protection against natural enemies. These interactions often attract the interest of amateur and professional photographers due to the aesthetic appeal of the organisms involved, but they are rarely formally reported. Here, we present several cases of trophobiosis observed in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Quintana Roo between the ant <i>Ectatomma tuberculatum</i> and several membracid genera. Seven myrmecophilous hemipteran species belonging to the subfamilies Membracinae (<i>Guayaquila gracilicornis</i>, <i>Guayaquila</i> sp., <i>Bolbonota pictipennis</i>, <i>Enchenopa binotata</i>, <i>E. squamigera</i>, <i>Membracis mexicana</i>) and Smiliinae (<i>Vanduzea segmentata</i>) are reported here, all of which are subsocial or communal. Although most of the species mentioned are already known to be associated with the genus <i>Ectatomma</i> or have been previously recorded on iNaturalist or other online citizen science databases, some represent the first formal report of an association with <i>E. tuberculatum</i>. Like most <i>Ectatomma</i> species, <i>E. tuberculatum</i> is essentially carnivorous but also scavenges on dead prey and exploits sugar sources. Its attraction to honeydew combined with the communal or subsocial behavior of many treehoppers —which concentrates sugary sources in specific parts of its habitat— certainly explains the wide variety of facultative trophobiotic interactions recently reported between this ant and Membracidae in French Guiana and now in Mexico. Further systematic observations and studies, as well as careful review of photo banks, should uncover many more such interactions.</p>

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Trophobiotic interactions between subsocial or communal treehoppers and the ant Ectatomma tuberculatum in Mexico

  • J.-P. Lachaud,
  • G. Pérez-Lachaud

摘要

Many hemipteran species are phytophagous, feeding on plant sap. This is true of the family Membracidae, many species of which engage in mutualistic interactions with ants, providing them with honeydew in exchange for protection against natural enemies. These interactions often attract the interest of amateur and professional photographers due to the aesthetic appeal of the organisms involved, but they are rarely formally reported. Here, we present several cases of trophobiosis observed in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Quintana Roo between the ant Ectatomma tuberculatum and several membracid genera. Seven myrmecophilous hemipteran species belonging to the subfamilies Membracinae (Guayaquila gracilicornis, Guayaquila sp., Bolbonota pictipennis, Enchenopa binotata, E. squamigera, Membracis mexicana) and Smiliinae (Vanduzea segmentata) are reported here, all of which are subsocial or communal. Although most of the species mentioned are already known to be associated with the genus Ectatomma or have been previously recorded on iNaturalist or other online citizen science databases, some represent the first formal report of an association with E. tuberculatum. Like most Ectatomma species, E. tuberculatum is essentially carnivorous but also scavenges on dead prey and exploits sugar sources. Its attraction to honeydew combined with the communal or subsocial behavior of many treehoppers —which concentrates sugary sources in specific parts of its habitat— certainly explains the wide variety of facultative trophobiotic interactions recently reported between this ant and Membracidae in French Guiana and now in Mexico. Further systematic observations and studies, as well as careful review of photo banks, should uncover many more such interactions.