Sugary secretions of wasp galls: a want-to-be extrafloral nectar?

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The most widespread form of protective mutualisms is represented by plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) that attract ants and other arthropods for indirect defence. Another, but less common, form of sugary secretion for indirect defence occurs in galls induced by cynipid wasps. Until now, such galls have been reported only for cynipid wasps that infest oak trees in the northern hemisphere. This study provides the first evidence of galls that exude sugary secretions in the southern hemisphere and asks whether they can be considered as analogues of plants' EFNs.

Methods

The ecology and anatomy of galls and the chemical composition of the secretion were investigated in north-western Argentina, in natural populations of the host trees Prosopis chilens

SUBMITTER: Aranda-Rickert A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5714234 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature