Bacteria may contribute to distant species recognition in ant-aphid mutualistic relationships

Bacteria may contribute to distant species recognition in ant-aphid mutualistic relationships

Christophe

Y.Fischer;Claire

Detrain;Philippe

Thonart;Eric

Haubruge;Frédéric

Francis;Fran(c)ois J.Verheggen;Georges C.Lognay

【期刊名称】《中国昆虫科学：英文版》 【年(卷),期】2017(024)002

【摘要】Mutualistic interactions between ant and aphid species have been the subject of considerable historical and contemporary investigations,the primary benefits being cleaning and protection for the aphids and carbohydrate-rich honeydew for the ants.Questions remained,however,as to the volatile semiochemical factor influencing this relationship.A recent study highlighted the role of bacterial honeydew volatile compounds in ant attraction.Here,ant's ability to distantly discriminate 2 aphid species was investigated based on bacterial honeydew semiochemicals emissions using a two-way olfactometer.Both the mutualistic aphid Aphis fabae L.and the nonmyrmecophilous aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris were found to be attractive for the ant Lasius niger L.The level of attraction was similar in both assays (control vs.one of the aphid species).However,when given a choice between these 2 aphid species,ants showed a significant preference for Aphis fabae.Honeydew volatiles,mostly from bacterial origins,are known to be a key element in ant attraction.Using the same