Investigations of the associated between aphids and ants on wild plants in Ankara province (Turkey)

Abstract :

Differences in feeding position consequently affect the benefits of myrmecophily for different aphid species. Tending also seems to be associated with differences in the honeydew quality and quantity of the aphids. This study yielded 16 ant species associated with 19 aphid species. The most encountered ant species that associated with many aphid species were Camponotus aethiops (Latreille), Camponotus piceus (Leach), Formica glauca Ruzsky, Lasius paralienus Seifert, Crematogaster sordidula (Nylander). On the other hand, the ant species that associated with only 1 aphid species were Aphis chloris Koch, Aphis euphorbiae Kaltenbach, Aphis fabae ssp. circiiacanthoidis Scopoli, Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis nasturtii Kaltenbach, Aphis verbasci Schrank, Brachcaudus helicrysi (Kaltenbach), Hyadaphis foeniculi (Passerini), Hydaphias hofmanni Börner and Protaphis terricola Rondani. The results indicated that the ant-aphid interaction is important on biological control.


Keyword :

Ants, aphids, associated, wild plant, Ankara


Author(s) : Özdemir, I., Aktaç, N., Toros, S., Kılınçer, N., Gürkan, M. O.
Downloads : 3157
Published Issue : 2008 Vol. 3 Number 2


2008 Vol. 3 Number 2