Agalmatium flavescens (Hemiptera, Issidae) and Camponotus aethiops (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) – an unknown trophobiotic association

Abstract

The knowledge of trophobiosis between ants and planthoppers of the family Issidae is limited to studies of individual cases from Argentina, Mexico, India, the island of Naxos (Cyclades) and an anecdotal report from Italy. This paper reports a previously undescribed ant-attendance of Agalmatium flavescens (Olivier, 1791) (Hemiptera, Issidae) by Camponotus aethiops (Latreille, 1798). It includes a brief literature review and presents some ecological aspects of this new finding. In additions, live color photographs of A. flavescens and interactions with ants are provided.

Keywords

• ant-attendance
• Issidae
• Agalmatium flavescens