Sticky aphid droppings host a secret microbial ecosystem
van Neerbos FAC, Cusumano A, Lievens B, de Bobadilla MF
Plant Signaling
That shiny, sticky coating you wipe off your car or patio under a tree is honeydew from aphids or scale insects, and the microbes living in it can attract the very predators and parasitic wasps that keep those pests in check.
Aphids and other sap-sucking bugs excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew, and scientists have found it's quickly colonized by bacteria and fungi that change its smell and nutrition within hours. Those microbial changes can send out chemical signals that call in ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and other natural enemies of the pests, meaning the goo on your leaves is quietly running its own tiny food web.
Key Findings
Honeydew is proposed to follow a four-stage microbial succession model as it ages on plant surfaces
Colonizing bacteria and fungi alter honeydew's sugar and nutrient composition, changing its value as a food source
Microbial volatile organic compounds released from honeydew may attract natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) of the honeydew-producing insects
chevron_right Technical Summary
That sticky, shiny film on leaves under aphid-infested trees isn't just sugar water, it's a fast-changing microbial world that shapes which insects show up to eat the aphids. Scientists reviewing decades of research argue this overlooked substance is a hidden hub connecting plants, insects, and microbes.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Honeydew microbial ecology: A neglected frontier in multitrophic networks.
Honeydew, the sugary excretion produced by sap-feeding Hemiptera, is one of the most common carbohydrate resources in many plant-based food webs. Honeydew supports a wide range of organisms, includ...
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