The ant, Crematogaster Lund, 1831 (Hymenoptera- Formicidae) engages in a mutualistic symbiosis with the mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, 1923 (Hemiptera-Pseudococcidae) on ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
Keywords:
Mutualism, Ant-mealybug interactions, Biochemical signals, Dopamine, HoneydewAbstract
The mutually beneficial relationship between ants and mealybugs exemplifies a classic ecological mutualism, wherein mealybugs provide ants with honeydew, an energy-rich exudate, while ants offer mealy bug critical protection against natural enemies such as predators and parasitoid wasps, and facilitate their dispersal and colony maintenance. This protection enhances mealybug survival, reproductive success, and colony persistence, while simultaneously ensuring a continuous honeydew supply for ants. This symbiosis is regulated by complex biochemical and behavioural interactions, including signaling molecules in mealy bug secretions that trigger ant attendance and defence behaviours. Both ants and mealybug may selfishly manipulate one another, with mealybug modulating ant aggressiveness via dopamine in honeydew to maximize their own protection, and ants selectively tending mealybug morphs that yield higher-quality honeydew. Such reciprocal selfishness strengthens the mutualistic association and enhances fitness for both species. The ant- mealybug association is context-dependent, shaped by ecological variables such as colony size and environmental pressures, and can significantly affect mealybug population dynamics and development. Its ecological significance extends beyond the immediate organisms, influencing plant health, predator-prey interactions, and overall ecosystem stability.
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