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Interactions Between Ants and Aphid Parasitoids: Patterns and Consequences for Resource Utilization

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Book cover Vertical Food Web Interactions

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 130))

Abstract

Many insect species of various taxa produce carbohydrate-rich excretions called honeydew, which is regularly collected by ants (for reviews, see Way 1963; Buckley 1987; Hölldobler and Wilson 1990). Both partners may derive benefits from this mutualistic association: the ants obtain an important source of nutrients; in return, they may act as effective guards for the tended species by warding off predators and parasitoids (e.g. Way 1954, 1963; Banks 1962; Pierce and Easteal 1986; Völkl 1992; Jiggins et al. 1993). However, a number of recent studies have shown that this protection is incomplete, and that ants cannot always provide an enemy-free space for their mutualistic partners. A number of predators and parasitoids have evolved morphological and/or behavioural adaptations to gain access to ant-attended resources (e.g. Eisner et al. 1978; Maschwitz et al. 1984, 1988; Mason et al. 1991; Völkl 1992, 1995).

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Authors
  1. W. Völkl
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie II, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Konrad Dettner

  2. Institut für Biologie I, Universität Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Gerhard Bauer

  3. Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie I, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Wolfgang Völkl

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Völkl, W. (1997). Interactions Between Ants and Aphid Parasitoids: Patterns and Consequences for Resource Utilization. In: Dettner, K., Bauer, G., Völkl, W. (eds) Vertical Food Web Interactions. Ecological Studies, vol 130. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60725-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60725-7_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64528-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-60725-7

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