[SPOTLIGHT] Honeydew Crews
Psyllids suck sap out of a leaf and produce honeydew which is collected by ants. When psyllids are present in large numbers, sooty mould will often take over the leaf and is detrimental to the health of the tree. Kyogle, NSW.
Psyllids (bottom) and the Notoncus ant responsible for honeydew collection. In winter the ants are less active but the jumping plant lice nymphs still produce copious amounts of honeydew. On the left you can see some sooty mould that thrives on psyllid honeydew and is detrimental to the health of the leaf. Kyogle, NSW.
Busy meat ant (Iridomyrmex sp.) tends to a collection of lerps (Glycapsis sp.). The nymph on the left has lost it's protective lerp cover while the group on the right remain intact. The ants tend their charges between two gum leaves stitched together with silk. Mundubbera, QLD.
Meat ant (Iridomyrmex sp.) treats itself to some honeydew pee from a brood of jumping plant lice. Mundubbera, QLD.
A meat ant takes honeydew excretions from a colony of plant lice nymphs on gum tree flower buds. Mundubbera, QLD.
Rattle ant collects honeydew from the end of a straw-like wax extrusion produced by a bug hidden in the bark. Without the drinking straw the honeydew would simply soak into the bark. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Common small meat ant (Iridomyrmex sp.) checks a gum leafhopper (Eurymelinae) for output. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Rattle ant drinks honeydew from a scale insect. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Rattle ant (Polyrhachis australis) takes honeydew from a drinking straw made by a bug hidden in the bark of a tree. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Rattle ants (Polyrhachis australis) take turns checking the straw extrustion of a hidden bug for honeydew. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Iridomyrmex ant tends to an enormous brood of mealybugs. Kyogle, Qld.
Psyllids with eggs and their protective ant friends. The ants drink honeydew excreted by the plant lice. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Technomyrmex ant waits for scales to produce nectar. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Sap sucking scale insects are producing more nectar than the ants can collect. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Technomyrmex ant doesn't seem to be gathering the output of these scale insects fast enough. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Acacia Horned Treehopper Nymph
Young treehopper nymph does a piddle. Ant seems quite happy. Oxley Creek, QLD.