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Treehoppers (with Ant)

Publilia concava

Description:

Brown treehoppers with lighter markings on their dorsal surfaces.

Habitat:

On the side of a nature trail in a mixed forest.

Notes:

Treehoppers are often tended by ants as part of a mutualistic relationship. Treehoppers secrete honeydew, which is made mostly from excess plant sap that they consume. Ants "farm" the treehoppers for their honeydew. To do this, an ant grasps a treehopper and strokes it with its antennae. This causes a droplet of honeydew to appear at the tip of the treehopper’s abdomen, which the ant then consumes. Both insects benefit from this mutualistic relationship: The ants get honeydew, and in return, they protect the treehoppers from predators.

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Christine Y.
Spotted by
Christine Y.

New York, USA

Spotted on Jun 3, 2017
Submitted on Jun 5, 2017

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