Influence of ants on colonies of Diaphorina enderleini Klimaszewski, 1964 (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Hilda patruelis Stål, 1855 (Hemiptera: Tettigometridae) living on Vernonia amygdalina Dellile in Yaoundé

Abstract

Diaphorina enderleini and Hilda patruelis are the 2 most important hemipteran pests of Vernonia amygdalina Dellile. These pests develop several tri-trophic associations with ants and host plant called Trophobiosis. In order to master their bio-ecology and protect their host plant, a study was carried out to determine the effect of ants in the growth and survival of the colonies of these hemipterans. Results showed that, in the absence of ants, the colonies of hemipterans were bound to disappear with D. enderleini exhibiting an average life expectancy of 1.50 ± 0.50 days and H. patruelis 2.50 ± 0.75 days. However in the presence of ants, 5 species of ants (Pheidole megacephala, Myrmicaria opaciventris, Camponotus sp, Crematogaster castanea and Tetramorium simillimum) where found to live in association with these hemipterans with D. enderleini exhibiting an average life expectancy of 59.10 ± 8.93 days whereas that of H. patruelis was 61.13 ± 9.75 days. This study proved that ants are indispensable for the development and survival of these hemipterans.