RE: Insects and plants
- To: "'K*@aol.com'" <K*@aol.com>, "'Medit Plants group'" <m*@ucdavis.edu>
- Subject: RE: Insects and plants
- From: "* R* <r*@agric.wa.gov.au>
- Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 08:38:41 +0800
My guess would be that the ants are grazing the aphids,
many ants develop a symbiotic relationship with aphids
or other sap sucking insects that provide the ants with
feed of sugary exudates in return for protection.
The other option is that many plants try to beat the aphids
and other sap sucking insects by producing small nectaries
that in effect reward the ants for protecting the plant from other insects.
I'm not sure if peonies have nectaries, but is they have no
other insects on them look carefully at the leaf base or petiole
base to see if the antsare attracted to these areas. Nectaries can be
quite small be are visible to the naked eye.
Bribery and corruption eh? ;-)
Cheers, Rod
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Rod Randall
Weed Risk Assessment
Weed Science Group, Agriculture Western Australia
"I weed..."
Weed Risk Assessment Home Page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/weedsci2.htm
Weed List Page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/weeds/weedlist.htm
Weed Activity Calender:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/calendar.htm
WeedBusters Home page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/buster/buster.htm
Weed Science Group Home Page:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/
Plant Protection Society & Western Weeds Homepage:
http://www.wantree.com.au/~weeds/
ph: 08 9368 3443
fax: 08 9474 3814
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> ----------
> From: K1MIZE@aol.com
> Reply To: K1MIZE@aol.com
> Sent: Sunday, 2 May 1999 7:19 AM
> To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
> Subject: Insects and plants
>
> In a message dated 5/1/99 2:36:06 PM EST, arilyan@seanet.com writes:
>
> << Would a lively discussion of symbiotic relationships between insects
> and
> plants of the Medit regions allow people to forgive me for this
> transgression?
> >>
>
> Does anyone know why peonies always have ants on them?
>
> Kurt Mize
> Stockton, California
> USDA Zone 9
>
