Territoriality during trophobiosis between wasps and homopterans

Abstract

Wasps of Belonogaster juncea juncea (Fabricius), Ropalidia guttatipennis (saussure) and Polybioides tabida (Fabricius) harvest the honeydew dropped onto leaves by various species of homopterans, or can tend homopterans directly. All three species of wasps exploit Aleyrodidae; R. guttatipennis and P. tabida can milk Coccidae and Tettigometridae whilst p. tabida has also been observed tending Aphididae. Ropalidia guttatipennis workers defend specific territories of concentrations of Coccidae And Tettigometridae on infested trees from competitors such as arboreal ants and flies. in this context, we observed a division of tasks between the wasps: some individuals act as guards, others as honeydew harvesters and yet others, the «intermediates», mainly as harvesters but are ready to intervene against intruding flies. © 1992 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.