Attendance Of Aetalion Reticulatum (Hemiptera : Aetalionidae) By Polistes Erythrocephalus (Hymenoptera : Vespidae) In Peru

2004·0.72 MB·

by  M A Maccarroll

52 ENTOMOLOGICALNEWS
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
ATTENDANCE OFAETALIONRETICULATUM
(HEMIPTERA: AETALIONIDAE)
BY POLISTESERYTHROCEPHALUS
(HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE) IN PERU1
M.A. MacCarroll2andW. K. Reeves3
Homopteran honeydew is a carbohydrate food source for Hymenoptera and
Diptera in the Neotropics (Letourneau and Choe 1987, Cameron et al 1995).
Honeydew contains a mixture of oligosacharides including melezitose and
stachylose (Russell and Hunter, 2002) and might be a higher energy food source
than floral nectar. The quality offood is important in determining caste in social
Hymenoptera (O'Donnell 1998). In certain Diptera, such as sand flies (Psycho-
didae: Phlebotominae), the composition ofthe sugar might affect the develop-
ment ofmedically important trypanosomatids (Leishmania) in the gut (Cameron
etal. 1995).
Polisteseiythrocephalus Latreille(Hymenoptera: Vespidae)wasnotknownto
tend or collect honeydew from aetalionids. On March 23, 2004, at 1243h, we
observed four aggregations ofAetalion reticulatum (L.) (Hemiptera: Aetalioni-
dae) feeding on a tree, most likely Solanaceae, inAgua Caliente, Department of
Cusco, Peru. Each aggregation consisted of approximately 30-40 individuals,
including nymphs, and adult males and females. A single female P. eiythro-
cephalus was standing among or below each ofthe aggregations ofA. reticula-
tum. Polistes eiythrocephalus touched individuals ofA. reticulatum with their
antennae butthe homopterans did not directly feedthewasps honeydew. Honey-
dew accumulated below the aggregations of A. reticulatum, and P. eiythro-
cephalus gleaned the honeydew from the branch directly below the homopteran
aggregation (Figure 1). We collectedandtastedthehoneydew fromthe branchto
verify that it was honeydew and not rain water. When P. eiythrocephalus was
collected, it regurgitated a drop of honeydew from its mouth. This is the first
A
account ofP. eiythrocephalus tending reticulatum and is furtherevidence that
this homopteran is tended by wasps throughout its range. Aetalion reticulatum
ranges from MexicotoBrazil and istendedbyvespids inCosta Rica(Letourneau
A
andChoe 1987). VoucherspecimensofP. eiythrocephalus and reticulatum are
deposited in theAmerican Museum ofNatural History (Division ofInvertebrate
Zoology) and in the Clemson UniversityArthropod Collection.
1Submittedon May24,2004.AcceptedonJune 16, 2004.
:Department of Entomology, Soil, and Plant Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634,
U.S.A. E-mail: mmaccar(a),clemson.edu.
1Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch,Centers forDiseaseControl and Prevention. 1600Clifton
Road,Atlanta,Georgia30333 U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected]. CorrespondingAuthor.
MailedonNovember 12, 2004
Vol. 115. No. 1. January& February- 2004
Figure 1.PolisteserythrocephalusfeedingonhoneydewbelowanaggregationofAetalion
reticulatum inAgua Caliente, Department ofCusco, Peru, March 23, 2004.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank C.R. Bartlett, J.M. Carpenter, and P.O. McMillan for identifying specimens, and PH.
AdlerandM.W.Turnbull forreviewingthismanuscript.Thisresearchwaspartiallysupportedbythe
College ofAgriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences Travel Grant from Clemson University. This is
technical contribution4991 oftheClemson University Experiment Station.
LITERATURE CITED
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