Ants monopolise plant resources by shelter-construction

Abstract

In Ecuadorean Amazonas, Crematogaster ants (Myrmicinae) were observed to construct shelters of debris and plant trichomes covering and hiding extrafloral nectaries of Passiflora auriculata vines. This is seen as an advanced way of excluding competing ants from a food source.

Keywords

• Amazonas
• Crematogaster
• Extrafloral nectaries
• Mutualism
• Passiflora