Gibernau M, Dejean A
Laboratoire d'Ecologie Terrestre (UMR CNRS no. 5552), Université Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse cedex, France.
Oecologia. 2001 Jan;126(1):53-57. doi: 10.1007/s004420000479. Epub 2001 Jan 1.
Trophobiotic associations between Caternaultiella rugosa (Heteroptera; Plataspidae) and two ant species, Camponotus brutus (Formicidae) and Myrmicaria opaciventris (Myrmicinae), were recorded at the base of the trunks of Bridelia micrantha (Euphorbiaceae). The bug colonies were generally sheltered in pavilions built by the ants, but during periods of proliferation, part of the colonies developed outside the pavilions. We examined the protective activity of the two associated ant species against an encyrtid parasitoid wasp that parasitized egg masses of the bug. Egg masses situated outside the pavilions were significantly less parasitized on trees occupied by either ant species than on experimental trees where ants were excluded by a sticky barrier. Egg masses were significantly less parasitized on trees occupied by C. brutus than on those occupied by M. opaciventris, both inside and outside the pavilions. Moreover, they were less parasitized inside than outside the pavilions when protected by C. brutus. Inside the pavilions, parental care of the egg masses and first-instar nymphs was abandoned to the ants. In contrast, outside the pavilions, the females of C. rugosa guarded egg masses and clusters of first-instar nymphs. Furthermore, adults and last-instar nymphs grouped around and above first-instar nymphs, forming a protective shield. These groups formed and disintegrated daily, according to the attending ant's rhythm of activity.
在小花土蜜树（大戟科）树干基部，记录到了皱皮卡特纳蝽（半翅目；龟蝽科）与两种蚂蚁，即野蛮木工蚁（蚁科）和暗腹织叶蚁（切叶蚁亚科）之间的嗜菌共生关系。蝽虫群体通常栖息在蚂蚁建造的巢穴中，但在繁殖期，部分群体在巢穴外发育。我们研究了这两种共生蚂蚁对一种寄生于蝽虫卵块的恩蚜小蜂科寄生蜂的保护作用。位于巢穴外的卵块，在有任何一种蚂蚁栖息的树上，其被寄生的程度明显低于用粘性屏障排除蚂蚁的实验树上。无论是在巢穴内还是巢穴外，位于野蛮木工蚁栖息树上的卵块被寄生的程度明显低于位于暗腹织叶蚁栖息树上的卵块。此外，当由野蛮木工蚁保护时，卵块在巢穴内被寄生的程度低于在巢穴外。在巢穴内，对卵块和一龄若虫的亲代照料由蚂蚁承担。相比之下，在巢穴外，皱皮卡特纳蝽的雌虫会守护卵块和一龄若虫群。此外，成虫和末龄若虫会聚集在一龄若虫周围及上方，形成一个保护屏障。这些群体每天根据照料蚂蚁的活动节奏形成和瓦解。
