University of Michigan Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) was founded in 1909.

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Individual ants specialize on particular aphid herds (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; Homoptera: Aphididae)

TitleIndividual ants specialize on particular aphid herds (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; Homoptera: Aphididae)
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1980
AuthorsEbbers BC, Barrows EM
JournalProceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Volume82
Pagination405-407
KeywordsSYMBIOSIS
Abstract

Three ant-aphid associations were each observed for ten consecutive days. Eighty-one percent of 103 individually-marked ant foragers visited only one of many conspecific aphid groups on a particular plant. Specialization on particular herds may help ants maximize their net energy gain from aphid honeydew.