http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/ Notes from the world of an insect lover Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:01:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-105 Jim from Mass USA Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:19:35 +0000 http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-105 Thank you for your answer ... perhaps a wayward graduate student might study these beetles and see if there is more to the relationship? Thank you for your answer … perhaps a wayward graduate student might study these beetles and see if there is more to the relationship?

]]> http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-104 Dino Martins Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:10:36 +0000 http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-104 Hello - Thanks for your comments and interest. I'm not sure if the ants get anything from the beetle in this particular case. There are some butterfly caterpillars who also live on these trees who do secrete nectar for the ants from a special 'dorsal nectary organ' on their backs! But some of them also eat the ants' babies (larvae) too! There are many sneaky insects trying to exploit this ant-plant mutualism. Hello - Thanks for your comments and interest. I’m not sure if the ants get anything from the beetle in this particular case. There are some butterfly caterpillars who also live on these trees who do secrete nectar for the ants from a special ‘dorsal nectary organ’ on their backs! But some of them also eat the ants’ babies (larvae) too! There are many sneaky insects trying to exploit this ant-plant mutualism.

]]> http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-100 Jim from Mass USA Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:48:57 +0000 http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-100 It is unfair to the beetle ... !!! ... does the beetle contribute anything to the ant colony? It is unfair to the beetle … !!! … does the beetle contribute anything to the ant colony?

]]> http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-99 Wim Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:26:45 +0000 http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-99 Ooh! Bit controversial there Paula! Ooh! Bit controversial there Paula!

]]> http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-97 Paula Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:18:36 +0000 http://dududiaries.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/05/a-colourful-freeloader/#comment-97 The ants would probably starve themselves to feed that selfish yet clever beetle. Can we call the freeloading, conning tricster Mugabe? Or is that unfair to the beetle? The ants would probably starve themselves to feed that selfish yet clever beetle. Can we call the freeloading, conning tricster Mugabe? Or is that unfair to the beetle?

]]>