桜島溶岩地帯におけるススキ寄生アブラムシ Melanaphis yasumatsui の発生消長およびアリ群集との関係  [in Japanese] Seasonal Abundance of an Aphid, Melanaphis yasumatsui (Homoptera), Occurring on Miscanthus on the Taisho lava of the Sakurajima Volcano, Southern Japan, with Reference to the Relation with Ant Community  [in Japanese]

The life cycle of the aphid Melanaphis yasumatsui was studied on the Taisho lava of the Sakurajima volcano, where food source for ants was quite scarce. The aphid was observed on Miscanthus sinensis almost throughout the year, though its density remarkably decreased in summer. In winter the population size became largest. The aphids almost exclusively attacked the back side of leaves, and during summer they preferred older to younger leaves. Alate aphids were seen in spring and fall/winter, but never in large numbers. At least part of the population may have completed its life cycle on Miscanthus. Though the aphids were thought to constitute important potential resources to ants and several ant species did climb up Miscanthus stems, we have never witnessed their attending to the aphids. Nor did we confirm that the aphids produced honeydew.