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Published May 31, 2011 | Version v1
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Trophobiosis between ants andEurystethus microlobatusRuckes 1966 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) a cryptic, gregarious and subsocial stinkbug

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
  • 2. Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia
  • 3. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia de Biomas Tropicais, DEBIO/Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)
  • 4. Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal e Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

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Description

In this study we describe trophobiosis between ants and Eurystethus microlobatus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) at a highland quartzite rocky outcrop in southern Espinhaço Range, southeastern Brazil. We found stinkbugs exclusively on the mistletoe Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae). The stinkbug species is gregarious, forming dense clusters, with females guarding eggs and young nymphs. In addition, this species presents cryptic colouration and most individuals were located on roots and shoots, camouflaged within the bark. Eurystethus microlobatus produced honeydew by day and night, and four ant species attended aggregations: Camponotus rufipes, Camponotus crassus, Camponotus melanoticus and Cephalotes pusillus. Camponotus rufipes was the most frequent and aggressive, and the only species to attend the stinkbugs by day and night. This is the first documented case of trophobiosis between true bugs and ants in the New World.

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