Social aphid species such as Colophina clematis inhabit galls on their host plants and engage in a range of colony-protecting behaviors including the collective removal of waste. The behavior is potentially dangerous because aphid waste, or honeydew, is a liquid, and unless the dew is stored and removed as tiny, individual droplets, it could easily contaminate or even drown the galls’ inhabitants.<br><br>Researchers now report that aphids help to maintain the integrity of honeydew droplets by making sure their homes are water-repellent. The aphids’ presence in the host induces plants to produce tiny hairs, or trichomes, on the inner surface of the galls, according to a study published in Biology Letters. Onto these hairs, the insects deposit tiny, hydrophobic wax particles, which then coat the honeydew droplets so they maintain their structure.
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