Green immigrant leaf weevil & acrobat ants

Description:

The immigrant green leaf weevil is an exotic pest that has established in North America. I saw a number of these weevils - all were seen in the company of ants.

Habitat:

Lake side

Notes:

Ants collect honeydew from aphids feeding on leaves; honeydew is rich in sugar, but low in protein. As predators of other insects, ants can get a more balanced diet of protein (insect meat) to accompany the sugar (honeydew). The immigrant green leaf weevil does not move rapidly through the foliage of trees. It does not appear to be well defended against ants that are common. Are ants a major mortality factor for this weevil? The answer would require study of the rates of ant encounters and predation. We commonly think of ants as pests, because they tend aphids that can damage the trees. If those same ants are natural enemies of other tree pests, the relationship becomes more complex. http://livingwithinsects.wordpress.com/2...