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A Crematogaster sp. (Hym., Formicidae) attacking Cola nitida (Sterculiaceae) in Western Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

W. E. Eguagie
W. E. Eguagie
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5244, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Extract

The flowers, leaves, young branches and pods of Cola nitida were attacked by Crematogaster buchneri Forel at Gambari Experimental Station, Nigeria. The ants scrape off the epidermis, so that affected leaves fall and pods become shrivelled. In 1970 damage to leaves and branches occurred in 6% and 1% respectively of the Cola trees in a 3·98-ha plot; in 1971 the figures were 7% and 2%. About 3% of the total pods were damaged in 1970, none in 1971. C. buchneri attacked 12 species of wild plants in the Cola plot, but when caged with plants in the laboratory, the ants attacked only Phyllanthus floribundus and C. caricifolia. The ants tend Coccus hesperidum L. and make small greyish-black nests of earth mixed with fine frass in crevices between main veins of leaves, at leaf nodes or terminal buds. Attack on living plant tissues shows a degree of convergence between C. buchneri and Atta spp. and Acromyrmex spp.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 62 , Issue 3 , February 1973 , pp. 527 - 531
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

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