Biology and ecology of alchisme grossa in a cloud forest of the Bolivian Yungas

9Citations
Citations of this article
24Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Treehoppers (Membracidae) exhibit different levels of sociality, from solitary to presocial. Although they are one of the best biological systems to study the evolution of maternal care in insects, information on the biology of species in this group is scarce. This work describes the biology and ecology of Alchisme grossa (Fairmaire) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) in a rain cloud forest of Bolivia. This subsocial membracid utilizes two host-plant species, Brugmansia suaveolens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Wild) Bercht. and J.Presl and Solanum ursinum (Rusby) (both Solanaceae), the first one being used during the whole year and the second one almost exclusively during the wet season. The development of A. grossa from egg to adult occurred on the plant where eggs were laid. Maternal care was observed during the complete nymphal development, and involved behavioral traits such as food facilitation and antidepredatory defense. Life cycle was longer on B. suaveolens during the dry season and shorter on S. ursinum during the wet season. Mortality was similar on both host plants during the wet season but was lower on B. suaveolens during the dry season. The presence of a secondary female companion to the egg-guarding female individual and occasional iteropary is also reported.

References Powered by Scopus

The evolution of ecological specialization

1804Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The behavioral ecology of insect vibrational communication

444Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Host shifts and signal divergence: Mating signals covary with host use in a complex of specialized plant-feeding insects

96Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Sequestration of tropane alkaloids from Brugmansia suaveolens (Solanaceae) by the treehopper Alchisme grossa (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

9Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Phenological phases of the host plant shape plant–treehopper interaction networks

8Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Natural selection in the tropical treehopper Alchisme grossa (Hemiptera: Membracidae) on two sympatric host-plants

6Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Torrico-Bazoberry, D., Caceres-Sanchez, L., Saavedra-Ulloa, D., Flores-Prado, L., Niemeyer, H. M., & Pinto, C. F. (2014). Biology and ecology of alchisme grossa in a cloud forest of the Bolivian Yungas. Journal of Insect Science, 14. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieu031

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 7

54%

Researcher 5

38%

Professor / Associate Prof. 1

8%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 9

69%

Earth and Planetary Sciences 2

15%

Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceut... 1

8%

Computer Science 1

8%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free