Mutualistic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with aphids in central and southwestern parts of Iran | ||
| Journal of Crop Protection | ||
| Article 1, Volume 2, Issue 1, 2013, Pages 1-12 PDF (525.95 K) | ||
| DOI: 10.48311/jcp.2013.1064 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Elahe Shiran* ; Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh; Mehdi Esfandiari | ||
| Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Ants consume or store the honeydew which is secreted by aphids or other homopteran insects. Major benefit of ant attendance for aphids is protection against natural enemies. A study was carried out during 2009-2010, to determine the mutualistic association between ants and aphids on different host plants in some parts of Khuzestan and Esfahan provinces. A total of 20 ant species belonging to 12 genera and 3 subfamilies were collected and identified. Among them, four species are new to Iranian ant fauna as follows: Monomorium libanicum Tohme; Monomorium qarahe Collingwood & Agosti; Monomorium mayri Forel and Lasius paralienus Seifert. The collected myrmecophilous aphids were 33 species belonging to 3 families and 5 subfamilies. Details and mechanisms of such associations between ants and aphids are unknown to us. More detailed investigations are needed in each case to adequately understand them. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Iran; Khuzestan; mutualism; ant; Aphid; Esfahan | ||
| References | ||
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