How Common are Ant-Repellent Nectars?

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Abstract
Responses of freely foraging ants to nectar vs. sugar solutions were studied. Plant species were Erythrina poeppigiana, E. fusca, Hippobroma longiflora and Heliconia psittacorum. It appears that plants in the lowland tropics can undertake at least 3 evolutionary pathways in response to potential nectar thievery by ants. First, is the secretion of ant-repellent compounds which is exemplified by Hippobroma and to a lesser extent by E. fusca. For this tactic to be successful the repellent must not be effective against other pollinators such as hymenopterans, other than ants and butterflies. A 2nd possible response is physical modification of the flower to exclude walking ants but not flying pollinators. Both Erythrina spp. and Heliconia psittacorum fit this scheme. Other plant species take the evolutionary route of ignoring or even exploiting nectar-thieving ants.

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