科學圖說

搜身檢查(Conducting a Search)

角蟬使用刺吸式口器吸食植物的汁液，消化後多餘的含糖水份以蜜露型式排出。蜜露吸引來螞蟻取食，過程中角蟬也因此受到保護的回報。兩者之間存在著互利共生的關係，所以經常可見螞蟻在角蟬的前後左右四處巡視。照片中的螞蟻站在角蟬的身體上，好像在跟角蟬說：「把翅膀抬高，我要搜身檢查，看看你有沒有私藏蜜露」。

Treehoppers use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on tree sap. After digestion, what remains is a sugar-rich sticky liquid (known as honeydew), which attracts ants. In this mutualistic relationship, the treehopper receives protection. Therefore, it is common to see ants patrolling the area around treehoppers. In this image, an ant is standing on a treehopper. It is as if the ant is communicating to the treehopper: “Lift up your wing and let me conduct a search to make sure you are not hiding any honeydew.”