Document: IAN-3-54-1

The importance of ant-tending to maternal care in the treehopper species, Publilia modesta.

BILLICK, I.* 1,2, M.WEIDMANN 1 and J.REITHEL 1,3

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, CO, USA 1
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA 2
University of California- Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA 3

Abstract:
We examined the relationship between maternal care and ant-tending in the treehopper species, Publilia modesta. Ant-tending increased the number of nymphs eclosing to adults on plants approximately fivefold. Maternal care increased the number of nymphs eclosing, but only in the presence of ants. Maternal care increased the average number of ants tending nymphal aggregations early in the summer; consequently we suggest the primary benefit of maternal care is to attract ants while nymphs are small and few in number. Because there is no benefit of maternal care in the absence of ants, we conclude that ant-tending provides an ecological context that favors maternal care in this treehopper species.

Keywords: maternal care, treehoppers, ant-tending, competition

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This abstract is being presented at: 8:45 AM in session:
Oral Session #5: Mutualisms.