Alarm Behavior of Brooding Female Umbonia crassicornis (Homoptera: Membracidae)

15 March 1976

journal article
research article
Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Vol. 69 (2) , 340-344
https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/69.2.340

Abstract

Females of Umbonia crassicornis provide protection to eggs and 1st instars from insect predators. Females disperse reduviids, syrphid larvae and coccinellid beetles by directed aggressive movements. Visual stimuli from predators and alarm pheromones released from injured nymphs evoke the aggressive response of brooding females. Aggregates of nymphs and adults of 3 other membracid species respond to alarm pheromones but this is the 1st substantiated example of parent-offspring communication.