Azarae, Idris

Federle, W.

Fiala, Brigitte

Maschwitz, U.

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Plants-Social Insects Relationships THE FIRST MYRMECOPHYTIC 2-PARTNER-SYSTEM IN THE GENUS MACARANGA: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MACARANGA PUNCTICULATA AND A CAMPONOTUS (COLOBOPSIS) IN MALAYSIA w. Federle 1, B. Fiala 1 ,U. Maschwitz2 and Azarae Hj. Idris3 1 Zoologie /11, Universitat WDrzburg, Biozentrum, Am Hub/and, 97074 WDrzburg, Germany; 2Zoologisches Institut, Universitat Frankfurt, Siesrnayerstr. 70, 60054 Frankfurt, Germany; 3 Dept. of Zoology, University of Ma/aya, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia In Peninsular Malaysia two myrmecophytic Macaranga species (Euphorbiaceae) excusively occur in peat swamp forests: Macaranga pruinosa and M. puncticu/ata. M. pruinosa is associated with specific Crematogaster ants. Probably two similar Crematogaster species are involved, which can only be distinguished by morphometric characters of the queen ants. The ants feed on food bodies mainly provided on the stipules of the plants and in addition cultivate trophobiotic coccids in stem domatia. Thus, the association represents a three-partner-system. In the syntopic species M. puncticulata, we discovered a fully different myrmecophytic system. 65% of all M. puncticu/ata were inhabited by an as yet undescribed Camponotus (C%bopsis) of the saundersi-species group. Colonization of M. puncticulata was (contrary to M. pruinosa) restricted to shady forest sites. The high percentage of colonization as well as the mode of colony foundation indicate an obligatory association between the two species. Colonies are founded by queen ants which search for young host plants and chew entrance holes into the hollow stem domatia. The plants also provide food bodies and in addition offer nectar from glands situated along the whole leaf margin. In contrast to the so far investigated Crematogaster ants in Macaranga, Colobopsis sp. does not cultivate any trophobionts. This association is therefore the first record of a two-partner Macaranga myrmecophytic system. It also differs from Macaranga-Crematogaster in other characters e.g. large colonies may inhabit several neighbouring trees polydomously. The workers also collect insects as protein supplement, thus leaving their plants for foraging. Despite the differences. Colobopsis sp. fulfils the same protective role as already described for Macaranga-Crematogaster-associations. References Fiala, B., Maschwitz, U., Tho, V.P., Helbig, A.J. 1989. Studies of a South East Asia ant-plant association: protection of Macaranga trees by Crematogaster borneensis. Oecologia 79, 463-470. Fiala, B., Grunsky, H., Maschwitz, U. , Linsenmair, K.E. 1994. Diversity of ant-plant interactions: protective efficacy in Macaranga species with different degrees of ant association. Oec%gia, in press. 175 

The first myrmecophytic 2-partner-system in the genus Macaranga: The association between Macaranga puncticulata and a Componotus (Colobopsis) in Malaysia

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The first myrmecophytic 2-partner-system in the genus Macaranga: The association between Macaranga puncticulata and a Componotus (Colobopsis) in Malaysia

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