Soral Crypsis:Protective Mimicry of a Coccid on an Indian Fern

作     者：Biplab Patra Subir Bera R. James Hickey 

作者机构：Department of Botany Ananda Mohan College 102/1 Raja Rammohan Sarani Department of Botany University of Calcutta 35 Ballygunge Circular Road Kolkata 700019 India Department of Botany University of Calcutta 35 Ballygunge Circular Road Department of Botany Miami University Oxford 

出 版 物：《Journal of Integrative Plant Biology》 (植物学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2008年第50卷第6期

页      面：653-658页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 090706[农学-园林植物与观赏园艺] 0907[农学-林学] 07[理学] 09[农学] 0901[农学-作物学] 0703[理学-化学] 0902[农学-园艺学] 0713[理学-生态学] 

主　　题：Asplenium nidus coccid coloration mimicry India insect-fern interactions predatory beetle soral crypsis trophobiont. 

摘      要：Herbivory with crypsis is not well documented in ferns. The present record of cryptic coloration of coccid Saissetia filicum Boisduval （Homoptera： Coccidae） to the sori of a fern species Asplenium nidus L. （Aspleniaceae） is unique. Predatory beetles （Jauravia sp., Coleoptera： Coccinellidae） that feed on the coccids, are suggested to be selective pressure for the development of the present homopteran soral crypsis. A higher rate of effective predation is noticed in the vegetative leaves than the fertile leaves. Aggressive ants were found harvesting honeydew secretions from the coccids and defending the trophobionts as well as the host fern from their natural enemies. In addition, a possible three-way mutualistic relationship among the coccids, its host fern and the tending ant is suggested. Differential numbers of coccids on vegetative and fertile leaves is correlated with their phenol content and degree of predation by beetles. Such coloration mimicry by the coccids may enable them to obtain the necessary blend of sorus of the host fern needed to evade beetle detection and attack.