THE INFLUENCE OF CARPENTER ANT (CAMPONOTUS MODOC) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) ATTENDANCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND SURVIVAL OF APHIDS (CINARA SPP.) (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) IN A GIANT SEQUOIA FOREST

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Camponotus modoc was associated with numerous species of Homoptera in Giant Forest, Sequoia — Kings Canyon National Park, California. Ant-exclusion experiments and field observations indicated that survival of the abundant Cinara occidentalis Davidson on white fir depends on attendance by C. modoc. More of the predators, Neomysia oblonguttata (Mulsant), Deraeocoris brevis Uhler, Passaloecus cuspidatus F. Smith, Pityophyphantes sp., were found on ant-unattended than on attended aphid colonies. As aphid populations decreased, ant attendance per aphid and number of predators/aphid increased. Attended aphid colonies were more likely to survive to produce oviparae and a lower proportion of alates.