Catskills Ants in Action!

Last week I posted about 2 Catskills wildflowers, Dutchman's Breeches and Squirrel Corn. Both are species in the genus Dicentra, and they are very closely related to the popular garden plant, the Bleeding Heart. I described their special relationship with bumble bees, and mentioned also their relationship with ants.

Well, this week, I found that the seed pods on the Dutchman's Breeches had ripened, and split open. Nestled inside were the shiny black seeds, each with a glistening white flower-shaped structure capping one end of the seed. Botanists call these little packages of oil or fat, elaiosomes. Catskills ants really dig them!

The video shows two local forest dwelling ants, each of a different species, and their reactions when they encounter Dicentra seeds bearing elaiosomes. I slowed most of the footage down to half speed to make it easier to see the action. The first ant, a Camponotus or Carpenter Ant, is really excited by the elaiosome and tries, unsuccessfully, to haul away the entire seed pod. The second ant is known to entomologists as Stenamma and is far more successful. Stenamma will return to her home nest where her prize will be stored underground. Effectively, the Dicentra plant has baited the ant into helping it scatter and plant its seed.

Check out Root's website at root2shootny.com to see what we can do for your garden!