ECOLOGICAL-STUDIES ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANTS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) AND THE MYRMECOPHYTE SCAPHOPETALUM-THONNERI (STERCULIACEAE)

During an ecological survey of the contents of leaf pouches (domatia) of the myrmecophyte Scaphopetalum thonneri (Sterculiaceae) we showed t hat along with ants, spiders dominate. Lumbricus, numerous arthro-pods and gastropods were also recorded. Different ant species shelter in t he domatia, but some appear to be opportunistic while others seem to h ave relationships with the plant. For instance, we gathered evidence t hat Technomyrmex spp. (Dolichoderinae), most frequently associated wit h S. thonneri protect the plant against defoliators and probably feed the plant thanks to their wastes that accumulate in certain domatia. T . tabarum, a specialized predator preying on other ants, is probably a ble to destroy entire colonies of Technomyrmex, leaving the plant with out protection. The domatia also shelter the foundations of several sp ecies of Myrmicinae and of the Ponerinae, Discothyrea oculata, whose f ounding queens install themselves in pouches occupied by the egg masse s of spiders.