Houadria, M.Y.I., Klimes, P., Fayle, T.M., & Gullan, P.J. 2018 Host-plant dissections reveal contrasting distributions of Crematogaster ants and their symbionts in two myrmecophytic Macaranga species. Ecological Entomology 43(5): 601-611

Keywords:

  • ant association
  • ecology
  • host
  • Notes: There were significant patterns in the vertical distribution of ant colonies and their symbionts in the plant stems. Most coccids were kept in the highest sections of both systems, although Mb + Cd (Macaranga beccariana with Crematogaster decamera) hosted a broader range of coccid species than Mt + Cc. (Macaranga trachyphylla with Crematogaster captiosa) Three nematode species were recorded, but with a rather low specificity to plant or ant species. Furthermore, the fine-scale distribution showed aggregation of closed holes with ant brood and separation of nematode-infested refuse piles from eggs.