Communal behavior and its exploitation in Tamalia social gall aphids (Aphididae: Tamaliinae)

Abstract

Social aphids have received increasing attention from sociobiologists as they offer novel systems for the study of the origins and maintenance of social behavior. All aphids undergo clonal reproduction in their life cycles, which has consequences for kin structure and social dynamics in aphid colonies. Although most of the known social aphids are defined by the presence of defender morphs, others, such as Tamalia gall aphids, exhibit communal behavior by foundresses when occupying galls, which raises questions about the circumstances favoring such behavior. Co-occupation of galls has opened the door towards exploitation by inquiline Tamalia aphids acting as obligate parasites of gall-inducers. Inquilines compete successfully with their host aphids in reproduction output and, possibly, developmental rates, but the mechanisms behind these advantages are not yet understood.