Myrmecotrophy
Under Myrmekotrophie (to German: diet by ants ) refers to an interaction between ants and plants in which the plant partner provides the ants living room and the ants of the plant nutrients will provide. The nutrients are provided via faeces , corpses or eating waste.
Myrmecodia ( Rubiaceae )
In the genus Myrmecodia , which is widespread in the tropics of Southeast Asia and northeastern Australia and grows epiphytically on trees, the hypocotyl is fully grown as a tuber and has cave passages. Ants live in these corridors and a. of the genus Philidris , which deposit feces and their corpses in certain chambers. These chambers are characterized by a glandular wall through which the nutrients (especially nitrogen ) are absorbed. The flowers of the ant tuber can self-pollinate and grow into orange-red berries. Birds eat the fruit and spread the up to six seeds with their droppings (see Ornithochory ). Ants then serve to spread the seeds ( myrmecochory ).
The genus Hydnophytum (also a red plant ) pursues this form of ant nutrition.
Dischidia ( silk plant family )
The epiphytically growing representatives of the genus Dischidia have also come to terms with ants (including the genus Iridomyrmex ). Some of the succulent leaves are enlarged and grow from a hood to tubular shape (" urn leaves "). The ants, which leave their faeces there, live in these leaves, which are pressed to the ground. The nutrients are absorbed via roots that grow into the leaf tubes.
Tococa ( Black Mouth Family )
The genus Tococa offers its ants living space at the base of the leaf blade . This is arched on both sides and forms 2 chambers, one of which serves as a living room and the other as a waste chamber. The entrance is directed towards the leaf surface and is often bordered by hair.
