Fire ants protect mealybugs against their natural enemies by utilizing the leaf shelters constructed by the leaf roller Sylepta derogata.
The importance of mutualism is receiving more attention in community ecology. In this study, the fire ant Solenopsis invicta was found to take advantage of the shelters constructed by the leaf roller Sylepta derogata to protect mealybugs (Phenacoccus solenopsis) against their natural enemies. This p...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2012-01-01
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Series: | PLoS ONE |
Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3503828?pdf=render |