INTEGRATION OF SCALE INSECTS (HEMIPTERA: COCCIDAE) IN THE SOUTH-EAST ASIAN ANT-PLANT (CREMATOGASTER (FORMICIDAE)- MACARANGA (EUPHORBIACEAE)) SYSTEM.

Abstract

INTEGRATION OF SCALE INSECTS (HEMIPTERA: COCCIDAE) IN THE SOUTH-EAST ASIAN ANT-PLANT

(CREMATOGASTER (FORMICIDAE)-MACARANGA (EUPHORBIACEAE)) SYSTEM.

The coccid colonisers of myrmecophytic Macaranga were tested for their trophic integration into the mutualistic Crematogaster-Macaranga ant-plant system. Honeydew secretion by these mostly endophytic scale insects was observed in Coccus caviramicolus Morrison, C. penangensis Morrison, C. secretus Morrison, C. tumuliferus Morrison, C. tumuliferus var. C.84 and in two other Macaranga coccid species. However, the use of coccids as protein-rich food by ants under normal and starvation conditions was not observed.

Key words: trophobiosis, ant nutrition, Myzolecaniinae, survival, dumping areas, C. macarangae, food-bodies, Pseudococcidae, Malaysia, Macaranga bancana, M. hypoleuca, M. hullettii, M. winkleri, M. triloba.