Abstract.
The aphid Astegopteryx sp. forms a banana-bunch shaped gall consisting of several subgalls on Styrax benzoides in northern Thailand, and completes its life cycle on the tree, without migrating to secondary hostplants. We found that its soldiers had sclerotic, protruded heads with many spine-like setae, and that several soldiers cooperate to plug the ostiole of the subgall with these heads. Of 173 ostioles examined in the field, 90.8 % were plugged with no space among the guarding soldiers. Many eggs and sexuals were found within subgalls guarded by soldiers, and a number of males were found trying to intrude into these subgalls. However, they were blocked by guarding soldiers, and it was no easy task for them to intrude into subgalls. The same was true for some soldiers that had rushed out of the subgall. Guarding soldiers often prevented outside soldiers from coming back into the subgall. These findings suggest an interesting possibility that guarding soldiers might consequently select still active, reusable soldiers and strong males for sexual females in their subgall.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Received 6 March 2005; revised 5 and 20 July 2005; accepted 27 July 2005.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kurosu, U., Narukawa, J., Buranapanichpan, S. et al. Head-plug defense in a gall aphid. Insect. Soc. 53, 86–91 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-005-0839-4
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-005-0839-4