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AMAZONICA http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-4392202302501

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION | SHORT COMMUNICATION

A potential ant-hemiptera-plant mutualism on

Lorostemon coelhoi (Clusiaceae) in the Brazilian Amazon
Silvia Larissa FERREIRA-SILVA1* , Michael G. J. HOPKINS1, Thiago M. MOUZINHO1, Rosaly A. ROCHA1,
Lucas C. MARINHO2
1
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Laboratório de Taxonomia Vegetal, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, 69060–001 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
2
Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Biologia, Av. dos Portugueses 1966, Bacanga, 65080-805 São Luís,
Maranhão, Brazil
* Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Interactions among organisms are important in ecosystem functioning and relevant for the management and conservation
of species. Here we report the first record of a potential ant-hemiptera-plant mutualism on Lorostemon coelhoi (Clusiaceae)
in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil. Our observations on five trees indicated that the presence of hemiptera nymphs diverted
ants from damaging flower buds while looking for nectar, because the nymphs secrete honeydew, which is collected by the
ants instead. Trees without hemiptera nymphs produced less fruit due to damage to flower buds by ants. The observation
suggests the occurrence of a tripartite mutualistic interaction among these organisms that represent three trophic levels. The
absence of hemiptera nymphs could directly affect the reproductive success of the plant by increasing the predation of flower
buds by ants. The interaction deserves further investigation.
KEYWORDS: animal-plant interaction, honeydew, mutualism, predation, tribe Symphonieae

Um potencial mutualismo formiga-hemíptera-planta em Lorostemon

coelhoi (Clusiaceae) na Amazônia brasileira
RESUMO
As interações entre organismos são importantes no funcionamento do ecossistema e relevantes para o manejo e conservação
de espécies. Aqui relatamos o primeiro registro de um potencial mutualismo formiga-hemíptera-planta em Lorostemon coelhoi
(Clusiaceae) em Manaus, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Nossas observações em cinco árvores indicaram que a presença de ninfas
de hemípteros desviou as formigas de danificar os botões florais enquanto procuravam por néctar, porque as ninfas secretam
um “melado”, que é coletado pelas formigas. Árvores sem ninfas de hemípteros produziram menos frutos devido aos danos
aos botões florais por formigas. A observação sugere a ocorrência de uma interação mutualística entre esses organismos, que
representam três níveis tróficos. A ausência de ninfas de hemípteros pode afetar diretamente o sucesso reprodutivo da planta,
aumentando a predação de botões florais por formigas. A interação merece investigação mais aprofundada.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: interação planta-animal, melado, mutualismo, predação, tribo Symphonieae

Mutualism is defined as an interspecific relationship among presence of ants is directly related to a decrease in herbivory
two or more species which obtain mutual benefits and improve and increased vegetative growth and reproduction of the plant
their fitness relative to when they occur alone (Bronstein 1994). host (e.g., Rico-Gray and Oliveira 2007; do Nascimento and
It is an important form of interaction, especially in tropical Del-Claro 2010). However, the effects of ants on plants are
environments (Bronstein 2015). Ants, for example, have a high not always positive, (Rosumek et al. 2009), and can be neutral
taxonomic and morphological diversity in the tropics (Brandão (Bronstein 1994) or negative (Jones et al. 2015).
and Delabie 2012), which suggests a wide variety of behaviors Except for bees, reports of insect-plant interactions in
and ecological functions, including an active involvement in Clusiaceae are few (e.g., Vlasáková et al. 2019), especially
mutualistic interactions (Rico-Gray and Oliveira 2007). There for arboreal and otherwise difficult-to-access genera, such as
are many well-known examples of mutualism between ants and Lorostemon Ducke. Lorostemon is an Amazonian genus that
plants. In most cases, ants play a defensive role that can have comprises five species of trees: L. bombaciflorus Ducke, L.
direct effects on the fitness of a given plant species, since the coelhoi Paula, L. colombianus Maguire, L. roseoviridis Ferr.-

CITE AS: Ferreira-Silva, S.L.; Hopkins, M.G.J.; Mouzinho, T.M.; Rocha, R.A.; Marinho. L.C. 2025. A potential ant-hemiptera-plant mutualism on Lorostemon
coelhoi (Clusiaceae) in the Brazilian Amazon. Acta Amazonica 55: e55bc23250.

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AMAZONICA Ferreira-Silva et al. Tripartite mutualism in Lorostemon in the Brazilian Amazon

Silva & L. Marinho and L. stipitatus Maguire (Ferreira-Silva between each visit. The observations were only qualitative,
et al. 2023, 2024). The genus has solitary, apical or lateral with no behavior quantification, and made from the ground.
inflorescences (rarely on the branches), and the flowers A ladder was used for flowers placed higher up.
are large, glabrous, tubular, concave or straight, generally We observed that the five Lorostemon trees were visited
showy yellow-green to yellow-red, with very evident green by ants of Cephalotes sp., Camponotus atriceps Smith,
to red bracts and sepals (Cabral and Marinho 2024). The 1858 and Dolichoderus sp., including nest construction
flowers have a sweet aroma and nectaries that produce a large by Camponotus atriceps and Dolichoderus sp. (Figure 1a).
quantity of nectar. However, as trees of Lorostemon occur On one of the trees, we observed Corimelaena nymphs
infrequently, and in very isolated populations, there is few (Hemiptera: Thyreocoridae) at the base of the buds, feeding
information about ecological interactions or floral visitors on the sap of flowers, fruits and petioles (Figure 1c). None
(Ferreira-Silva 2023). Here we report the first observation of the ants was seen carrying pollen grains, but C. atriceps
of an insect-plant interaction in Lorostemon. and Dolichoderus sp. were observed near the nectaries at
The reported observations were made in the context of a the moment of opening of the flowers, probably searching
broader study on monitoring of floral visitors in Lorostemon for nectar (Figure 1b). We also observed C. atriceps and
species carried out every 1-2 weeks from December 2021 to Dolichoderus sp. collecting a sugary honeydew excreted by
June 2023 in the municipality of Manaus, Amazonas state, the Corimelaena nymphs. No Cephalotes ants were observed
Brazil. Ants were identified through images taken in the field on this tree. On the trees without Corimelaena nymphs, that
and hemipterans were collected and identified at Instituto ants bit flower buds in search of nectar, making holes in the
Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, and deposited flower (Figure 1d). Damaged flowers stopped development
in the entomological collection of the same institution. The (Figure 1e), reducing pollination and fruit formation in
observations were made on five individuals of L. coelhoi these trees. The tree with hemiptera formed approximately
located at Ramal do Brasileirinho, km 5 (Sítio PANC, 70 flowers and 29 developing fruits, while the four trees
Sítio Karla and Sítio Santa Rita) in Manaus (3°01’21.0’’S, without hemiptera had less than 20 flowers and five fruits.
59°52’37.2’’W). The trees were 3-4 m high and were located Lorostemon does not bear extrafloral nectaries and, when
approximately 5 to 25 m apart from each other. On each floral nectar was unavailable (e.g., flowers were closed or
monitoring occasion, the trees were observed by two people absent), honeydew was an alternative food source for ants.
during 10 to 12 hours per day (during the day and during Even not having observed ants carrying pollen grains,
the night) on 15 days, with intervals of two to three days Camponotus atriceps and Dolichoderus sp., which were probably

Figure 1. Ants and Hemiptera on Lorostemon coelhoi Paula (Clusiaceae). A – Ant nests among the leaves; B – Ant visiting flowers in anthesis; C – Ant grazing hemipteran
nymphs (black arrowheads); D – Flower bud of L. coelhoi with holes caused by ants (white arrows); E – Non-viable flower bud after predation by ants. Credit: S.L. Ferreira-Silva.

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searching for nectar (Figure 1b), might be considered possible Bronstein, J.L. 2015. Mutualism. 1st ed. Oxford University Press,
pollinators of L. coelhoi. Camponotus in particular do not Oxford, 320p.
have metapleural glands, which are responsible for secreting Cabral, F.N.; Marinho, L.C. 2024. Lorostemon, in Flora e Funga do
antibiotic substances, which could reduce pollen viability Brasil, Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (https://floradobrasil.
(Beattie et al. 1984). jbrj.gov.br/FB78374). Accessed on 03 Oct 2024.
Although the number of individuals monitored in this Campos, R.I.; Camacho, G.P. 2014. Ant–plant interactions: the
study was too small to be conclusive, we suggest that the importance of extrafloral nectaries versus hemipteran honeydew
on plant defense against herbivores. Arthropod-Plant Interactions
presence of hemiptera and their interaction with various ant
8: 507–512.
species contributed to the reproductive success of the trees
through a reduction of damaging herbivory by the ants. The do Nascimento, E.A.; Del-Claro, K. 2010. Ant visitation to
extrafloral nectaries decreases herbivory and increases fruit set
traditional theory highlights hemiptera as a resource for the
in Chamaecrista debilis (Fabaceae) in a Neotropical savanna.
plant to attract ants for plant defense (Campos and Camacho
Flora 205: 754–756.
2014), but our preliminary observations suggest a different
Ferreira-Silva, S.L. 2023. Taxonomia e biologia floral de Lorostemon
hypothesis in that the hemipterans have a crucial role in
Ducke (Clusiaceae) no Brasil. Master’s dissertation, Instituto
preventing ants from attacking nectar producing flowers and
Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Brazil, 113p. (https://
being nectar-thieves. We understand that other parameters repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/40748).
could influence plant reproductive success, such as abiotic
Ferreira-Silva, S.L.; Mouzinho, T.M.; Hopkins, M.G.J.; Marinho,
factors and morphological characteristics of each individual,
L.C. 2023. New synonym and lectotypifications in Lorostemon
however, our observations suggest the occurrence of a tripartite (Clusiaceae: Symphonieae). Phytotaxa 613: 289–291.
mutualistic interaction among organisms of three trophic levels
Ferreira-Silva, S.L.; Marinho, L.C.; Mouzinho, T.M.; Hopkins,
that possibly has a significant contribution to the reproductive
M.G.J. 2024. A new species of Lorostemon (Clusiaceae) from
success of Lorostemon and deserves further investigation. the eastern Amazonia. Brittonia 76: 132–136.
Jones, E.I.; Afkhami, M.E.; Akçay, E.; Bronstein, J.L.; Bshary,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS R.; Frederickson, M.E.; et al. 2015. Cheaters must prosper:
We thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de reconciling theoretical and empirical perspectives on cheating
Nível Superior (CAPES) for the fellowship granted to the in mutualism. Ecology Letters 18: 1270–1284.
first author, and the graduate program in Botany at Instituto Rico-Gray, V.; Oliveira, P.S. 2007. The Ecology and Evolution of Ant-
Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA/PPG-BOT) for Plant Interactions. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 320p.
logistical support. Rosumek, F.B.; Silveira, F.A.O.; Neves, F.S.; Barbosa, N.P.U.; Diniz,
L.; Oki, Y.; et al. 2009. Ants on plants: a meta-analysis of the
role of ants as plant biotic defenses. Oecologia 160: 537–549.
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