Ant-aphid mutualism: the influence of ants on the aphid summer cycle

• Published in: Oikos Vol. 121; no. 1; pp. 61 - 66
• Main Authors: Tegelaar, Karolina, Hagman, Mattias, Glinwood, Robert, Pettersson, Jan, Leimar, Olof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2012; Blackwell Publishing; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Ants; Aphididae; Aphis fabae; Beneficial insects; Biological and medical sciences; Colonization; container-grown plants; Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use; Ethology; etologi; field experimentation; Formicidae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Honeydew; Host plants; Hyperparasites; Insect behavior; Insect colonies; Insect reproduction; Insects; Lasius niger; Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap; Mutualism; Parasites; Parasitism; Parasitoids; Plant ecology; summer; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Tripleurospermum perforatum; Aphidoidea; Formicidae; Insecta; Social insect; Formicoidea; Mutualism; Cycle; Homoptera; Arthropoda; Aphididae; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Aculeata

There are few longtime studies on the effects on aphids of being tended by ants. The aim of this study is to investigate how the presence of ants influences settling decisions by colonizing aphids and the post-settlement growth and survival of aphid colonies. We conducted a field experiment using th...