#Leutkea pectinata

[fatchance]

Partridgefoot (Leutkea pectinata), at Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park. 

[mountrainiernps]

Landscape Language

Monoecious (adj) – in the case of aphids, having only one species of preferred host In 2003, a new species of aphid was described called Ericaphis lousiae, named for Louise Lake at Mount Rainier National Park. The aphid is monoecious, found only on the plant partridgefoot (Leutkea pectinata). Partridgefoot is a small plant, growing in mats in subalpine areas of the park, and the aphids are small too (adult body length only 1.22-1.81mm) – too small to really be noticeable. These tiny green insects live their entire lives only on this one plant species. They in turn are preyed on by parasitic wasps, among others. Ants are often seen crawling on partridgefoot, so it’s possible that they are also benefiting from “farming” the aphids for food. In the profusion of wildflowers in a subalpine meadow, it’s easy to miss that each flower might be an entire world on its own.

_________________ NPS photo, 7/29/19. Description: A mat of cream-colored flowers on short spikes, with ants crawling over a few of the blooms.