Eur. J. Entomol. 101 (4): 547-553, 2004 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2004.078

Trophobiotic relationships between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Tettigometridae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) in the grey dunes of Belgium

Valérie S. LEHOUCK1, Dries B. BONTE1, Wouter DEKONINCK1,2, Jean-Pierre E. MAELFAIT1,3
1 Ghent University, Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, KL Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; e-mail: Valerie.Lehouck@UGent.be; Dries.Bonte@Ugent.be
2 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Department of Entomology, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
3 Institute of Nature Conservation, Kliniekstraat 25, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium

We recorded the association between the planthopper Tettigometra laetus Herrich-Schäffer, 1835 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tettigometridae) and three ant species belonging to the subfamilies Myrmicinae and Formicinae in a coastal dune area of Flanders (Belgium). Lasius psammophilus Seifert, Tetramorium caespitum L. and Formica cunicularia Latreille were observed attending and palpating the dorsal glandular area of this planthopper, taking honeydew directly from its anus, herding them and carrying them into their nests when disturbed. The planthopper was rarely found in the absence of ants and probably develops within ant nests, which may provide protection against predation and adverse weather conditions. The natural history of temperate ant-hemipteran relationships is discussed.

Keywords: Tettigometra laetus, trophobiosis, ant-hemipteran mutualism, planthopper

Received: February 19, 2004; Revised: May 24, 2004; Accepted: July 8, 2004; Published: December 20, 2004  Show citation

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LEHOUCK, V.S., BONTE, D.B., DEKONINCK, W., & MAELFAIT, J.E. (2004). Trophobiotic relationships between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Tettigometridae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) in the grey dunes of Belgium. EJE, 101(4), 547-553. doi: 10.14411/eje.2004.078
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