ISSN:
1420-9098
Keywords:
Soldier
;
social behaviour
;
aphid
;
Pseudoregma
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Life history and behavioural characteristics of the bamboo aphid,Pseudoregma bambucicola (Takahashi), which has sterile soldiers, were studied in the laboratory. The stadium of normal (fertile) first instar larvae was two times longer than that of second instar larvae, and the stadium of soldier-type (sterile) first instar larvae was much longer (max. 116 days) than the stadium of normal first instar, suggesting that soldiers are able to take nutrition from bamboo. Stimulation of larvae with breath, vibration of bamboo shoots or disturbing the larvae with the tip of a fine brush induced significantly more defensive acts by soldiers than those by normal larvae — the latter usually fled. Soldiers did not attack non-kin conspecific intruders or even aphids of different species, suggesting that, in this species, kin-recognition ability is low.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01314917
