First report on the pollination of Neotinea maculata (Orchidaceae) by minor worker ants of the Temnothorax exilis group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

García-Gila, Jaime; Blasco-Aróstegui‍, Javier

doi:10.5209/mbot.71171

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 20 publications

(24 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As there was only one R. dracophylla plant at the Fern Tree site, there was no possibility of ant cross‐pollination with other plants, but in any case, N. hickmani individuals appeared to remain on a single inflorescence, moving from flower to flower within that inflorescence, which would lead to pollination between adjacent flowers as has been reported in some orchid species (García‐Gila & Blasco‐Aróstegui, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Pollination of Richea dracophylla (Ericaceae) and the role of the nocturnal ant Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae)

Nicol,

McLachlan‐Troup,

McQuillan

2023

Austral Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Our observation of large numbers of ants Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae) on the flowers of a Tasmanian endemic shrub Richea dracophyllum (Ericacea) during the night in winter prompted us to carry out a more extensive study of pollination of R. dracophyllum at two sites. Terminal panicles bear inflorescences of 300+ flowers whose petals are fused into calyptrae covering the reproductive organs, and the calyptrae must be removed before pollination can occur. To exclude birds, we placed mesh bags over some inflorescences. Inflorescences with exclusion bags had a high proportion of retained calyptra and the numbers of viable seeds were greatly reduced. We found R. dracophyllum to have a very long flowering period (more than 6 months) and a range of floral visitors, including honey‐eaters (Meliphagidae) and flying insects. At one site we observed large numbers (up to 100) of N. hickmani on inflorescences between dusk and midnight during winter at air temperatures down to 2.5°C. They fed on nectar from flowers that had lost their calyptra where they were exposed to pollen from the anthers and scanning electron microscopy showed high numbers of pollen grains being carried on the ants. The feeding behaviour of these ants would facilitate pollination between adjacent flowers (geitonogamy). Smaller numbers of dolichoderine ants (Iridomyrmex bicknelli?) were observed during the daytime in spring but mainly fed under partially detached calyptrae where they had little exposure to pollen. We suggest that R. dracophylla is pollinated by a range of species and functional groups—birds, flying insects and ants, and that the pollinating species will vary during the year and between sites, although insects depend on birds to remove the calyptrae. Ant pollination is rare, nocturnal ant pollination is extremely rare, and pollination by nocturnal cryophilic ants has not been documented previously.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Pollination of Richea dracophylla (Ericaceae) and the role of the nocturnal ant Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae)

Nicol,

McLachlan‐Troup,

McQuillan

2023

Austral Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The first record of ants as potential pollinators of a Neotropical tree species (Lomatia hirsuta Diels ex J.F.Macbr., Proteaceae)

Pereyra,

Probst,

Cocucci

2024

J Applied Entomology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We provide evidence that Camponotus chilensis (Spinola) visit flowers of the Radal tree (Lomatia hirsuta Diels ex J.F.Macbr.), possibly acting as pollinators of this important tree of the Proteaceae family in the Andean Patagonian forests of Argentina. We found several ant workers transporting pollen from different trees during the blooming season. Pollen transported by workers varied in amount, with some individuals observed fully coated with pollen grains. This note constitutes the first observation of ant activity on the flowers of this plant species and also the first potential example of a tree pollinated by ants in the Neotropics. This note highlights the importance of natural history data in the emergent study field of ant‐pollination.

show abstract

Ants are more than just curious bystanders to some flowers—they act as significant pollinators

Das

2023

Front. Insect Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ant–plant associations are ubiquitous and highly diverse in almost all terrestrial environments, resulting in complex ecological networks. Although ant–plant mutualism is prevalent, ant-mediated pollination is uncommon, and only a few investigations have demonstrated their role in pollination. Thus, the topic of ant-mediated pollination requires revision to assess its significance in pollination biology. Ants are frequent floral visitors, but their impact on plant reproductive fitness is rarely acknowledged; nonetheless, numerous flower-visiting ants have been investigated for their involvement in promoting floral development and hybrid vigor in crops. In this study, we present a summary of the scientific literature published over the last four decades on ants’ involvement in pollination, the diversity of pollinating ants to various host plants, the ant–plant pollinating networks, and seasonal patterns of ant-mediated pollination. Ants generally forage for flowers in quest of nectar and other sustenance, and in doing so they pollinate the flowers that they encounter. This review identified the pollination networks between ants and plants at the species and family levels. Pollination is often affected by a number of aspects, including the flower’s sex, its ovary position, the inflorescence it bears, and the time of year. The available literature demonstrates that ants visit the inflorescences of the same species only to promote cross-pollination, a process known as “geitonogamy”; however, we conclude that ants may visit different inflorescences of different plants in the field. If ant pollination is the norm, there is less selection pressure to acquire self-compatibility; nonetheless, ants' cross-pollination may have caused ants to co-evolve with the pollinating flowers. This indicates that ants are more than just curious bystanders to some flowers; they act as significant pollinators.

show abstract

First report on the pollination of Neotinea maculata (Orchidaceae) by minor worker ants of the Temnothorax exilis group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cited by 3 publications

References 20 publications

Pollination of Richea dracophylla (Ericaceae) and the role of the nocturnal ant Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae)

Pollination of Richea dracophylla (Ericaceae) and the role of the nocturnal ant Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae)

The first record of ants as potential pollinators of a Neotropical tree species (Lomatia hirsuta Diels ex J.F.Macbr., Proteaceae)

Ants are more than just curious bystanders to some flowers—they act as significant pollinators

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About