Tree-Dwelling Ants: Contrasting Two Brazilian Cerrado Plant Species without Extrafloral Nectaries

Plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) vary the secretion of nectar between day and night, which creates turnover in the composition of interacting ant species. Daily variation in the composition of ant species foraging on vegetation is commonly observed, but its mechanisms are poorly understood. We evaluated the daily variation in nectar availability and interspecific aggressiveness between ants as possible regulatory mechanisms of the turnover in ant-plant interactions. We hypothesized that (i) plants would interact with more ant species during periods of higher secretion of nectar and that (ii) aggressive ant species would compete for nectar, creating a daily turnover of species collecting nectar. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the production of nectar during the day and night and by experimentally removing EFNs of Bionia coriacea (=Camptosema coriaceum) (Nees & Mart.) Benth. (Fabaceae: Faboideae) plants in a Brazilian savanna (Cerrado). We then compared the abundance and composition of ant species between those treatments and during the day. Our results indicate that more ant workers forage on plants during the day, when nectar was sugary, while more ant species forage at night, when aggressiveness between ant species was lower. We also detected a day/night turnover in ant species composition. Ant species foraging for nectar during the day were not the same at night, and this turnover did not occur on plants without EFNs. Both dominant ant species, diurnal Camponotus crassus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and nocturnal Camponotus rufipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), were the most aggressive species, attacking other ants in their specific periods of forage while also being very aggressive toward each other. However, this aggressiveness did not occur in the absence of nectar, which allowed non-aggressive nocturnal ant species to forage only during the daytime, disrupting the turnover. We conclude that extrafloral-nectar presence and interspecific aggressiveness between ants, along with other environmental factors, are important mechanisms creating turnovers in ants foraging on plants.

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“…; Maravalhas et al . ; Baker‐Méio & Marquis ). Our results confirmed this scenario since Camponotus spp., Cephalotes spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extrafloral‐nectaries and interspecific aggressiveness regulate day/night turnover of ant species foraging for nectar onBionia coriacea

et al. 2016

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“…The fiebrigi species group (Figs. 27,28,29,30,31,32) Kempf (1958a) created the jheringi subgroup of the angustus group in Paracryptocerus (Harnedia) with seven species (C. bivestitus, C. bohlsi, C. bruchi, C. fossithorax, C. jheringi, C. prodigious, and C. quadratus). Later, De Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) separated it into three groups of Cephalotes.…”

Section: Brazilian Species Of Depressus Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

A taxonomic study of the Brazilian turtle ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Cephalotes)

Oliveira

Powell

Feitosa

2021

Rev. Bras. entomol.

913

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We revise the taxonomy of species of the ant genus Cephalotes occurring in Brazil. Sixty-four species are recognized, distributed in 14 species groups. Five species are described as new: Cephalotes gabicamacho new species, Cephalotes marycorn new species, and Cephalotes monicaulyssea new species (angustus group); Cephalotes liviaprado new species (fiebrigi group); and Cephalotes mariadeandrade new species (pinelii group). The soldier and gyne of C. adolphi (angustus group), and the gyne and male of C. nilpiei (pinelii group) are described for the first time. Cephalotes marginatus is synonymized under C. atratus. The bruchi and the laminatus species groups are synonymized under fiebrigi and pusillus groups, respectively. The new species group manni is proposed, derived from the basalis species group. Distribution maps for each species in Brazil are provided. In addition, we provide an illustrated morphological glossary for the genus and illustrated identification keys for workers and soldiers for species groups and for all Brazilian species.

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Pharsalus repandus Melichar, 1906 (Hemiptera, Ricaniidae): first record of ant-attendance in the family, ethological notes, and new records from Brazil

DOMAHOVSKI,

PALADINI

2024

Zootaxa

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Ant attendance or trophobiosis is widely distributed in Auchenorrhyncha and can be deﬁned as a disjunctive association, an interspeciﬁc relationship between two symbiotic organisms. Aggregation behavior with or without ant mutualism has been documented for nymphs and adults in a few families of Fulgoromorpha whereas ant-attendance is reported for all planthopper families except for Ricaniidae. Based on field observations of Pharsalus repandus Melichar, 1906, the present work aims to record the first mutualistic interaction of ant-attendance in a species of the family Ricaniidae, report its aggregation behavior, its host plant, and expand its known distribution to the states of Paraná and Minas Gerais. Two ants were attending the planthoppers at the same time, identified as Camponotus (Myrmotrhix) rufipes (Fabricius, 1775) and Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) crassus Mayr, 1862. We noted direct contact and observed the ants employing antennal palpation behavior to stimulate the planthoppers to deliver honeydew.

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Tree-Dwelling Ants: Contrasting Two Brazilian Cerrado Plant Species without Extrafloral Nectaries

Cited by 3 publications

References 39 publications

Extrafloral‐nectaries and interspecific aggressiveness regulate day/night turnover of ant species foraging for nectar onBionia coriacea

Extrafloral‐nectaries and interspecific aggressiveness regulate day/night turnover of ant species foraging for nectar onBionia coriacea

A taxonomic study of the Brazilian turtle ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Cephalotes)

Pharsalus repandus Melichar, 1906 (Hemiptera, Ricaniidae): first record of ant-attendance in the family, ethological notes, and new records from Brazil

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