Be My Mutualist? An Interdisciplinary Approach to Exploring Ant-Hemiptera Interactions

Organizer(s)

• MW

  Meredith Willmott (she/her/hers)

  University of Arizona
  Tucson, Arizona
• SH

  Solomon Hendrix (he/him/his)

  University of Arizona
  Newark, Delaware

Which came first, the trophobiotic organ or the ant? Conceptually founded in the field of mutualism ecology, this symposium combines ant and hemipteran research (and researchers!) to reveal the connection between species interactions and phenotype. Create mutualisms with the scientists around you to understand the interactions between your respective taxa.

Presentations:

• 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Pacific

  Introductory remarks
  

  Presenting Author: Meredith June Willmott (she/her/hers) – University of Arizona
• 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific

  Examining vibrational signaling in treehopper-ant mutualisms
  

  Presenting Author: Rebecca Carranza – University of Illinois
• 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM Pacific

  Exploring the role of substrate-borne vibrations in the treehopper-ant mutualism
  

  Presenting Author: Jonathan Bowles – University of Missouri

  Co-Author: Reginald Cocroft – University of Missouri
• 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM Pacific

  Ant dominance shapes ecology and colour-morphology evolution in Colombian lowland ant–treehopper networks
  

  Presenting Author: Camilo Flórez Valencia – Pennsylvania State University

  Co-Author: Reuber Antoniazza – Stephen F. Austin State University

  Co-Author: Julie Urban – Pennsylvania State University

  Co-Author: Olivia Evangelista – Universidade Federal do Paraná
• 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM Pacific

  Observations on ants tending putative vectors of palm lethal decline phytoplasmas
  

  Presenting Author: Brian Bahder – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
• 11:45 AM - 12:05 PM Pacific

  Panel discussion