Patch Fidelity in Camponotus compressus Ants Foraging on Honeydew Secreted by Treehoppers

Camponotus compressus ants are thought to be mutualistic with plant sap-sucking insects such as aphids and treehoppers, where the ants provide protection from predation and/or help maintain hygiene, in exchange for sugar-rich honeydew secreted by sapsuckers. We studied the foraging strategies and ant-treehopper interactions among C. compressus ants and Oxyrachis tarandus tree-hoppers on the plant Bauhinia tomentosa. We found that ants show fidelity to specific patches of B. tomentosa. We also found a significant correlation between hopper number and the number of visiting ants in foraging patches. Our study raises many questions about the ant-treehopper mutualism, navigation strategies and optimal foraging in C. compressus.