Absence of Kin Discrimination Behavior in a Soldier-Producing Aphid, Ceratovacuna-Japonica (Hemiptera, Pemphigidae, Cerataphidini)

Citation:

Carlin NF, Gladstein DS, Berry AJ, Pierce NE. Absence of Kin Discrimination Behavior in a Soldier-Producing Aphid, Ceratovacuna-Japonica (Hemiptera, Pemphigidae, Cerataphidini). Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 1994;102 :287-298.
1994_carlin_et_al.pdf1.53 MB

Date Published:

Jul

Abstract:

Certain aphid species produce sterile soldiers, morphologically and behaviorally specialized individuals that defend fertile colony members, some or all of which are clonemates. If the soldier morph is maintained by inclusive fitness advantages, its altruism should preferentially benefit relatives, suggesting a potential role for kin discrimination. We performed a field experiment on spatial segregation and two laboratory experiments on agonistic behavior among non-soldiers and by soldiers of the cerataphidine aphid, Ceratovacuna japonica. For the test of spatial segregation, we introduce a new method of nearest-neighbor analysis, by constructing a minimum spanning tree from the map of individual locations and comparing the numbers of within-group and between-group connections. The results provide no evidence of kin recognition abilities in this species. Members of different clones showed no tendency to segregate spatially, nor to direct displacement attempts against non-kin when competing for feeding sites. Soldiers were indiscriminately aggressive toward early instar reproductives from their own and other colonies. We discuss the implications of these findings for several evolutionary hypotheses on the maintenance of the soldier morph in aphids.

Notes:

Qp378Times Cited:12Cited References Count:0

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