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Myrmecophilous Aphid Species (Hemiptera, Aphididae) Feeding on Mycoheterotrophic Monotropa hypophegea (Ericales,
Bartosz Bielecki1, Patryk Długosz1, Miłosz Morawski1
1Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
Abstract:
The paper presents the first report and morphological description of aphids feeding on the mycoheterotrophic plant Monotropa hypophegea Wallr. of the family Ericaceae. This is the first known case of aphids feeding on a mycoheterotrophic plant, additionally involved in mutualistic relation with ants Lasius niger (Hymenoptera, Formicinae). This observation took place on an overgrown, postmining spoil tip in southern Poland (Europe). Barcode COI sequencing and morphological examination indicated that the collected specimens of aphids belong to A. fabae s. lat., a group of closely related species. The discussion focuses on taxonomic issues concerning the species identity of the collected aphids and the ecological interactions between insects, plants, and fungi involved in the observed association. The presence of ants attending aphids indicates the possibility of ants serving as pollinators of M. hypophegea.
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