This leaf is fairly bare but the similar one that must be somewhat related, (maybe have a foot shorter height but with a fuzzy underside and generally similar leaf shape and branching scheme), in its fuzzyness had little cellulose projections that I guess kept these ants from eating the other plant. I have no idea how the sap differed. They both were somewhat sweet to human taste.
It seemed to me to be a case of 'host plant fidelity' as you said. I could imagine that there might be a restriction of gene flow going on at in those two populations. I meant it as a possibly more visible example of what you posted. It is somewhat rare to actually discover something new.
I once found a larval insect with shit on its back and took it to Tom Eisner
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who simply walked to his file cabinet and pulled out a reprint where he had published on it.
I do not know the speices of ant or plant but if ID'D one might be able to proceed with a similar discussion along with the one you mentioned. What was SO VERY STRIKING was that (as) the ants "marched" up the stems of these plants (this leaf was not the only plant they were feeding from/on) they only made holes in the three veins (AND EVERY LEAF THAT HAD A HOLE had these three positioned holes). It was a small sample (
This message has been edited by Brad McFall, 04-19-2005 06:55 AM
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