Myrmelachista schumanni
Encyclopedia
Myrmelachista schumanni, also known as the lemon ant, is a species of ant
that is notable for the creation of Devil's garden
. Using its own herbicide
, it is able to shape its surroundings.
Leafcutter ants are the principal herbivores in Central and South American rainforest
s. In the rainforest
s of the western Amazon, however, a little-studied ant species rivals the leafcutters in its ability to destroy vegetation. Myrmelachista schumanni, lives in large clearings in the rainforest, called devil's garden
s, where all but one species of plant are excluded. The non-excluded plant species is Duroia hirsuta
, a myrmecophyte
in which M. schumanni nests.
The few studies of the mutualism between M. schumanni-D. hirsuta have incorrectly concluded that these clearings are formed by allelopathy
on the part of D. hirsuta. It was established that worker ants were injecting leaves with formic acid
, a toxin commonly produced in ant species, and the plants started to die within 24 hours.
By killing other plants, the ants provide themselves with many nest sites - a long-lasting benefit as the researchers estimate that the largest garden observed, containing 328 trees over 1,300 square metres, is around 800 years old.
On the Travel Channel show Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern
, it is shown that when eaten, Myrmelachista schumanni have a taste that is very similar to lemons, hence the nickname the lemon ant.
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
that is notable for the creation of Devil's garden
Devil's garden
This should not be confused with the Devil's gardensIn myrmecology and forest ecology, a devil's garden is a large stand of trees in the Amazon Rainforest consisting almost exclusively of a single species, Duroia hirsuta...
. Using its own herbicide
Herbicide
Herbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant...
, it is able to shape its surroundings.
Leafcutter ants are the principal herbivores in Central and South American rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s. In the rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s of the western Amazon, however, a little-studied ant species rivals the leafcutters in its ability to destroy vegetation. Myrmelachista schumanni, lives in large clearings in the rainforest, called devil's garden
Devil's garden
This should not be confused with the Devil's gardensIn myrmecology and forest ecology, a devil's garden is a large stand of trees in the Amazon Rainforest consisting almost exclusively of a single species, Duroia hirsuta...
s, where all but one species of plant are excluded. The non-excluded plant species is Duroia hirsuta
Duroia hirsuta
Duroia hirsuta is a myrmecophyte tree species from the Amazon Forest. It is one of some 37 species of Duroia which are shrubs or canopy trees in the family Rubiaceae, favouring ants , and occurring in Central America as far north as Mexico, the Amazon Basin, the Guiana Shield, the Brazilian...
, a myrmecophyte
Myrmecophyte
Myrmecophyte is a plant that lives in a mutualistic association with a colony of ants. There are over 100 different genera of myrmecophytes. These plants possess structural adaptations that provide ants with food and/or shelter. These specialized structures include domatia, food bodies, and...
in which M. schumanni nests.
The few studies of the mutualism between M. schumanni-D. hirsuta have incorrectly concluded that these clearings are formed by allelopathy
Allelopathy
Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influence the growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have beneficial or detrimental effects on the target organisms...
on the part of D. hirsuta. It was established that worker ants were injecting leaves with formic acid
Formic acid
Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid. Its chemical formula is HCOOH or HCO2H. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in the venom of bee and ant stings. In fact, its name comes from the Latin word for ant, formica, referring to its early...
, a toxin commonly produced in ant species, and the plants started to die within 24 hours.
By killing other plants, the ants provide themselves with many nest sites - a long-lasting benefit as the researchers estimate that the largest garden observed, containing 328 trees over 1,300 square metres, is around 800 years old.
On the Travel Channel show Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern is a James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer, and teacher. As the co-creator, host, and consulting producer of Travel Channel's series Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern and Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World, he travels the world exploring food in its own native...
, it is shown that when eaten, Myrmelachista schumanni have a taste that is very similar to lemons, hence the nickname the lemon ant.