Devil's Garden. A clear area around the rainforest tree Duroia hirsuta (Rubiaceae) caused by symbiotic ants

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The ant Myrmelachista schumanni creates devil's gardens by systematically poisoning all plants in the vicinity except D. hirsuta, the tree in which it nests. The ant poisons the plants by injecting formic acid into the base of the leaf. By killing other plants, the ant promotes the growth and reproduction of D. hirsuta which has hollow stems that provide nest sites for the ants

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Size: 3400px × 5100px
Location: Rio Manati, Loreto, Peru
Photo credit: © Morley Read / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: amazon, ant, clearing, devil, duroia, ecology, garden, hirsuta, jungle, myrmelachista, peru, plant, rainforest, rubiaceae, schumanni, shrub, symbiosis, symbiotic, tree, understory