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Entomology (Study of Bugs)/ant/ homoptera interaction

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Expert: Ed Saugstad - 3/16/2008


Question
Dear Sir/ Madam

I am currently doing some research on ant association with homoptera for a university
project. from what I can conclude from reviewing many journals is that this type of
association between homoptera and ant only occurs in the ants and not any of the other
social insect groups. Am I correct? If so would you be so kind as to refer me to some
more information regarding this topic or possibly refer me to someone who I can email
about this query as I would like to know why this phenomenen has evolved in ants and not
the other social insects.

thank you for your time
Tam

Answer
Dear Tammy - The only other homopteran-social insect association that I am aware of involves planthoppers and vespid wasps - see http://psyche.entclub.org/94/94-081.html and www.hindawi.com/GetPDF.aspx?doi=10.1155/1987/12726 for a detailed account. Unfortunately, I do not know anyone personally that I could refer you to for additional assistance.
Hope this helps,
Saugy

Entomology (Study of Bugs)

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Ed Saugstad

Expertise

Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management. If you are requesting a 'mystery bug' identification, PLEASE either attach an image to your question, or post an image on a web page (such as Flickr) so that I can look at it, as verbal descriptions frequently are insufficient for a definitive identification.

Experience

21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist; duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.

Organizations
Entomological Society of America, West Virginia Entomological Society, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society, West Virginia Association for Cave Studies.

Publications
American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology, Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.

Education/Credentials
B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.

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