Notes on distribution of ant-Homoptera interaction on selected crop plants.
Adenuga A. O., Adeboyeku K.
Author Affiliation: Dep. Plant Sci., Univ. Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Insect Science and its Application 8 : 239-243
Abstract : Information is presented on the distribution of ant-Homoptera associations on various crops, fruits and ornamental plants following a field survey at Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1979. The host plants that harboured the ant-Homoptera associations seemed more widespread than hitherto reported in the literature. About 50% of the species of ants examined tended more than one species of Homoptera. Other Homoptera-tending ants seemed to specialize, confining themselves to only one species. The seasonal abundance of some of the homopterans and the ants which tend them was studied on cocoa, mango and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). The populations of the ants tended to synchronize with the populations of the homopterans they tended during the season.