Re: Ants

Reggie and the group,

I have a similar story with solanopteris in Ecuador where I tried to 
drown them to no avail. I was covered in stinging ants so finally I 
bagged them up tightly and you can guess the rest......... they were 
still there. I gambled and got them home and the ants were still there 
when I got home.

Betsy

Regferns@aol.com wrote:

>Many of the Lecanopteris species are also homes for ants.  Ants are  also 
>attracted to plants with nectaries, such as many of the Aglaomorpha  species, 
>particularly Photinopteris speciosum (now Aglaomorpha speciosa).   Interesting 
>timing with the talk of Solanopteris brunei (the Potato Fern).   Last evening, 
>Robbin Moran spoke in Miami to the Tropical Fern & Exotic  Plant Society.  This 
>morning around the breakfast table we were discussing  Solanopteris.  This 
>discussion was prompted by the fact that a couple  of years ago while in Borneo, 
>we bought several specimens of Platycerium  ridleyi.  The plants were 
>infested with stinging black ants.  After  almost 1 hour of trying to dislodge the 
>ants from the plants (with  lots of water), ants were still coming out.  We 
>noticed that there were  numerous chambers, nooks and crannies in the base fronds, 
>and the ants had  thoroughly and efficiently colonized these plants.  Some 
>observers have  surmised that there is a symbiotic relationship between the ants 
> and Platycerium ridleyi. The ants do come out in force to defend their  
>home.  
> 
>Reggie  Whitehead
>Tropical Fern & Exotic Plant  Society
>
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