Title: | Ant-aphid association: role of aphid alarm pheromone |
Author(s): | Nault LR; Montgomery ME; Bowers WS; |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0036-8075 (Print) 0036-8075 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "When attacked by predators, aphids secrete alarm pheromones that cause nearby aphids to disperse. Ant-associated (myrmecophilous) aphid species disperse less readily than nonmyrmecophilous species. The ant Formica subsericea responds to aphid alarm pheromone in a way that is beneficial to the aphid. These findings support our hypothesis that myrmecophilous aphids depend more on ants for protection from predators than on their own dispersive powers" |
Keywords: | Animals Ants/*physiology Aphids/*physiology Fear/*physiology Pheromones/*physiology Species Specificity; |
Notes: | "MedlineNault, L R Montgomery, M E Bowers, W S eng Comparative Study Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 1976/06/25 Science. 1976 Jun 25; 192(4246):1349-51. doi: 10.1126/science.1273595" |