Thread subject: Diptera.info :: What's on the ants back?
Posted by LordV on 21-10-2005 07:59
#1
Pic of an ant doing it's thing with aphids, but what is on the ants back?
Not sure if they are just shed aphid skins (bit of a coincidence that they are standing up) or something else.
Brian V.
Posted by LordV on 22-10-2005 19:31
#2
Someone on another forum suggested they were baby aphids, but I can't imagine the ants transporting them like that!
Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 22-10-2005 19:39
#3
But antenae! Collembola's antenae.
But if collembola, it is colourless collembola which means that normaly its live underground in ants nest.
I'm not sure at all, it is my guess only.
Posted by Paul Beuk on 22-10-2005 20:55
#4
I think the antennae may be just why aphids were suggested. I though about them, too, but I had to little definite characters to say they are for certain.
Young nymphs of aphids can certainly have those broad, somewhat tapering terminal antennal segments.
Posted by LordV on 23-10-2005 21:54
#5
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
I'm not sure if they are just accidents or are parasitising the ant or are part of the ant/aphod symbiotic relationship.
Not sure if it helps -here is another pic of the same ant.
Brian V.
Edited by LordV on 23-10-2005 21:59
Posted by LordV on 25-03-2007 22:25
#6
Just to update this thread- the tiny bugs have been ID'd as springtails.
Brian v.
Posted by Toby on 26-03-2007 23:48
#7
Think I would have guessed Springtail but what a weird situation to find them....great shots. I presume Frans ID'd the species for you?
Posted by Andrew Whittington on 27-03-2007 16:39
#8
I'd go for Collembola too; aren't they too small for aphid nymphs or that species of aphid?
Posted by Xespok on 27-03-2007 20:50
#9
I think they are Collembolan nymphs.