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Nesting of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in dead post-reproductive plants of Actinocephalus polyanthus (Eriocaulaceae), a herb of coastal dunes in southern Brazil

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Abstract

Actinocephalus polyanthus is a shrubby plant of the coastal dunes in southern Brazil which dies after a single reproductive event. When dry, the plant becomes hollow and can be used for the nesting of ants. From a total of 67 post-reproductive plants surveyed, we observed 53 nests containing a total of eight ant species. Dead individuals of A. polyanthus appear to serve as an ephemeral habitat and after each plant reproductive event provide the ants with a new supply of nest sites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biologia de Formigas, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, C.P. 476, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, 88010-970, Brazil

    C. E. Cereto, G. O. Schmidt, A. G. Martins & B. C. Lopes

  2. Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    C. E. Cereto & G. O. Schmidt

  3. Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    T. T. Castellani

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  1. C. E. Cereto
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  2. G. O. Schmidt
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  3. A. G. Martins
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  4. T. T. Castellani
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  5. B. C. Lopes
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Correspondence to B. C. Lopes.

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Cereto, C.E., Schmidt, G.O., Martins, A.G. et al. Nesting of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in dead post-reproductive plants of Actinocephalus polyanthus (Eriocaulaceae), a herb of coastal dunes in southern Brazil. Insect. Soc. 58, 469–471 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-011-0165-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-011-0165-y

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