A Non-Harmonic Relationship of Ants with Plants of Asclepias Curassavica (Apocynaceae) In A Subtropical Site in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

During 2008, 13 morph species of ants in five subfamilies were recorded visiting flowers of Asclepias curassavica in a ruderal environment in Vale do Rio Quilombo, Santos, Southeastern Brazil. The role of the presence of ants in flowers was experimentally tested in 50 pairs of plants, with and without ants. These plants, which were followed until the fruiting, showed that ants affected negatively the production of fruits. In studied system, ants acted as parasites of plants of A. curassavica because they are nectar thefts, diminishing the access to potential pollinators reducing their capacity of fruit production.