Author/Authors :
Shiran، Elahe نويسنده Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. , , Mossadegh، Mohammad Saeed نويسنده Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. , , Esfandiari، Mehdi نويسنده Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. ,
Abstract :
Ants consume or store the honeydew which is secreted by aphids or other homopteran insects. Major benefit of ant attendance for aphids is protection against natural enemies. A study was carried out during 2009-2010, to determine the mutualistic association between ants and aphids on different host plants in some parts of Khuzestan and Esfahan provinces. A total of 20 ant species belonging to 12 genera and 3 subfamilies were collected and identified. Among them, four species are new to Iranian ant fauna as follows: Monomorium libanicum Tohme; Monomorium qarahe Collingwood & Agosti; Monomorium mayri Forel and Lasius paralienus Seifert. The collected myrmecophilous aphids were 33 species belonging to 3 families and 5 subfamilies. Details and mechanisms of such associations between ants and aphids are unknown to us. More detailed investigations are needed in each case to adequately understand them.
