Soral Crypsis:Protective Mimicry of a Coccid on an Indian Fern  

作　　者：Biplab Patra Subir Bera R. James Hickey 

机构地区：[1]Department of Botany, Ananda Mohan College, 102/1, Raja Rammohan Sarani [2]Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, India [3]Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road [4]Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford

出　　处：《Journal of Integrative Plant Biology》2008年第6期653-658,共6页植物学报（英文版）

摘　　要：Herbivory with crypsis is not well documented in ferns. The present record of cryptic coloration of coccid Saissetia filicum Boisduval （Homoptera： Coccidae） to the sori of a fern species Asplenium nidus L. （Aspleniaceae） is unique. Predatory beetles （Jauravia sp., Coleoptera： Coccinellidae） that feed on the coccids, are suggested to be selective pressure for the development of the present homopteran soral crypsis. A higher rate of effective predation is noticed in the vegetative leaves than the fertile leaves. Aggressive ants were found harvesting honeydew secretions from the coccids and defending the trophobionts as well as the host fern from their natural enemies. In addition, a possible three-way mutualistic relationship among the coccids, its host fern and the tending ant is suggested. Differential numbers of coccids on vegetative and fertile leaves is correlated with their phenol content and degree of predation by beetles. Such coloration mimicry by the coccids may enable them to obtain the necessary blend of sorus of the host fern needed to evade beetle detection and attack.Herbivory with crypsis is not well documented in ferns. The present record of cryptic coloration of coccid Saissetia filicum Boisduval （Homoptera： Coccidae） to the sori of a fern species Asplenium nidus L. （Aspleniaceae） is unique. Predatory beetles （Jauravia sp., Coleoptera： Coccinellidae） that feed on the coccids, are suggested to be selective pressure for the development of the present homopteran soral crypsis. A higher rate of effective predation is noticed in the vegetative leaves than the fertile leaves. Aggressive ants were found harvesting honeydew secretions from the coccids and defending the trophobionts as well as the host fern from their natural enemies. In addition, a possible three-way mutualistic relationship among the coccids, its host fern and the tending ant is suggested. Differential numbers of coccids on vegetative and fertile leaves is correlated with their phenol content and degree of predation by beetles. Such coloration mimicry by the coccids may enable them to obtain the necessary blend of sorus of the host fern needed to evade beetle detection and attack.

关 键 词：Asplenium nidus coccid coloration mimicry India insect-fern interactions predatory beetle soral crypsis trophobiont. 

分 类 号：Q948[生物学—植物学] S682.36[农业科学—观赏园艺]