In the Amazon live many strange species. This is a treehopper.
They not only have a bizarre appearance, but they also communicate
in a remarkable way too.
Vibrating their bodies, they send signals through the forest plants they live on.
And every sound has its own particular meaning. This treehopper mother communicates with her young,
encouraging them to stay together so that she can protect them.
For there are plenty here waiting to eat young treehoppers.
An assassin bug, armed with piercing mouthparts and sticky front legs.
Capable of literally sucking the life out of her entire brood.
But she can't guard them all. She needs help from friends in high places.
Bees. They’re very aggressive. This is more than the assassin bug bargained for.
Mission accomplished. Her brood are safe.
The bees don't protect the treehoppers for free. A little tickle on a treehopper’s back
and they exude a sugary liquid, honeydew, a sweet reward for protecting them.
It's just one of the countless ways in which forest species work together.
Insects are masters of communication, often using a variety of methods to convey information to one another. One fascinating method some insects use is vibration. Vibrations can carry information about mating, warning signals, territory boundaries, and even navigation.
Cicadas, for example, are well-known for their loud, buzzing calls produced by vibrating membranes on their abdomens. These calls serve primarily as mating signals, with males producing distinctive sounds to attract females.
Another example is the honeybee's "waggle dance," which involves vibrating their bodies in a specific pattern to communicate the location of food sources to other members of the hive. By performing this dance, scout bees can convey information about the distance, direction, and quality of food sources they have discovered.
Ants also use vibrations to communicate within their colonies. They produce vibrations through drumming their bodies against surfaces or by stridulating (rubbing body parts together). These vibrations can convey a variety of messages, including alarm signals, recruitment to food sources, or coordination during cooperative tasks.
Even smaller insects like aphids have been observed using vibrations to communicate. When attacked by predators, aphids can emit vibrational signals that alert nearby aphids to the danger, prompting them to take evasive action.
Insects' ability to communicate through vibration showcases the incredible diversity of strategies they employ to interact with one another and navigate their environments. These vibrations play crucial roles in their social organization, reproductive success, and survival.
