Ants in Association With Leafhoppers (A Symbiotic Relationship)

A few weeks ago I found these Leaf hoppers (Cicadellidae) in association with ants in my backyard. They were mostly in the leaf axils of a young White Gum, Eucalyptus viminalis. The ants, I believe, are a species of Carpenter ant (Camponotus spp.)If you happen to be a mycologist, please feel free to suggest a more precise ID.

There are many known cases of ants in association with other types of Hemipterans (bugs) such as the Scale insects. However, relatively few cases are known of associations between ants and Leafhoppers. The Leafhoppers feed on the sap from the new growth and then excrete a sweet substance known as honeydew. This is what the ants are after.

Here is a quote from a study on similar species in Brazil (see source below):

When ants remove honeydew from plants, they perform a sanitary function that benefits both the homopteran and the host plant (Bartlett 1961, Washburn et al. 1985). In addition, ants expel herbivores that compete with myrmecophilous Homoptera for their host plant (Messina 1981, Fritz 1983, Seibert 1992). Most importantly, ants protect homopterans from natural enemies (Way1963, Banks and Macaulay 1967, Bristow 1984).

The relationship is described as "obligatory mutualism". Mutualism is one of various types of symbiosis. In this case it means both parties benefit from the relationship. The word obligatory is added because, in the case of the leafhopper, their survival is dependent on the relationship.

All of the photos were taken by me with a Canon 7D and Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens.

Click on images to to see a larger version
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The Leafhoppers in the first three photos are possibly Eurymeloides adspersa.

The next two shots appear to be a different species although they were just a few cm's from the others. You will also notice that these one's are still in the nymphal stage and do not have fully developed wings as yet.

References & Further Reading:

• Gustavo Moya-Raygoza Lowell R. Nault - 2014 - Obligatory Mutualism between Dalbulus quinquenotatus (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and Attendant Ants - Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 93, Issue 4, 1 July 2000, Pages 929–940

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