On Sat, 18 Mar 1995 CMDodd@aol.com wrote:
> There is at least one symbiotic relationship between ants and CP,
> specifically Nepenthes bicalcarata. There is a species of ant that
> drills a hole in the tendril near where it attached to the pitcher.
> The tendril in this
> area is hollow and expanded. I do not have a clue as to the feeding
> habits
> of the ant but likely it is not attracted to the plants sugar lure or
> it would be a short lived relationship. Whether the entire plant is
> colonized by a single colony or several colonies live in seperate
> pitchers I cannot say. Also the upper pitchers, though small also
> posess this expanded tendril and may be used by the ants as well.
> What the Nepenthes gains from this relationship is unclear.
>
> Of course many insects, invertebrates and some vertebrates live and
> breed in the pitchers of many pitcher type plants.
>
> Cliff
>