Abstract
Females of the aphid parasitoidParalipsis enervis received liquid food by regurgitation (trophallaxis) from workers of the ant speciesLasius niger, but were not fed by workers ofMyrmica laevinodis andTetramorium caespitum. WhileP. enervis was not treated aggressively by workers of any of these species,Lasius flavus workers killed the parasitoid. This different ant behaviour resulted in a different parasitoid longevity. WhileP. enervis survived for only 10 min in the presence ofL. flavus (due to ant aggression) or for approximately one day in the presence ofT. caespitum andM. laevinodis (due to lack of trophallaxis), survival increased significantly to more than five days in the presence ofL. niger, which provided food regularly to the parasitoids. Our study suggests thatP. enervis mimics behavioural signals ofL. niger, as well as odor cues of its host aphidAnoecia corni, to avoid aggression byL. niger.
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Völkl, W., Liepert, C., Birnbach, R. et al. Chemical and tactile communication between the root aphid parasitoidParalipsis enervis and trophobiotic ants: consequences for parasitoid survival. Experientia 52, 731–738 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01925584
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01925584