Host plant and ants influence the honeydew sugar composition of aphids

摘要: Summary 1 Honeydew composition is an important factor in mediating ant–homopteran mutualisms. The trisaccharide melezitose especially significant this interaction. Honeydew of three Chaitophorus aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae), reared on two species Populus (Salicaceae), was analysed to investigate factors that may influence honeydew composition. 2 Honeydew populialbae and C. populeti contained high proportions the melezitose. These are typically tended by ants. In contrast, tremulae low This untended. 3 Chaitophorus produced higher when tremula than P. alba. 4 Chaitophorus reduced their production absence reverse true tremulae. 5 These results show differs not only between aphid but also within species. They support known differences ant preference for different species, produce further predictions host plants. particular they first time tending itself composition. suggest maintaining a attractive ants incur metabolic costs aphids.