Horned Treehopper: Mutualism with Ants

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Leptocentrus Taurus, commonly called the horned treehopper, belongs to the family Membracidae, which is related to cicadas and leafhoppers.

Most treehoppers have unusual characteristics; they are insects with strange physical appearances and so fascinated. Leptocentrus taurus has three horns; two short horns on the right and left sides, and a long central horn that curves backward.

The horned treehopper is common on giant sensitive plants where the sap contained in the stems is a favorite feed for this insect to suck.

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Look at that, there's another leg there. Whose leg is that?

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It seems to have friends from a different species, or could it be its enemies?

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No, they are not enemies but the horned treehopper's bodyguards. The ants come to protect the horned treehopper from predators. Of course, that's not a free security service. There must be mutualism between the boss and his guards!

The treehopper that ingests large amounts of phloem (plant sap) will excrete a sweet substance called "honeydew." Black ants feed on the sweet substance and, in return, provide the treehopper with protection from predators.

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All these photos are my original work, taken with a Xiaomi POCO NFC smartphone and an assembled external macro lens.



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Horned Treehopper: Mutualism with Ants

Very interesting post!

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