Biology

Ant relationships with floral and extrafloral nectar microbes

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Nectar inhabiting microbes (NIMs) are microorganisms that inhabit and feed on plant nectar. Yeasts and bacteria are the most common groups of NIMs and are adapted to survive otherwise inhospitable conditions within nectar. The majority of knowledge on NIMs comes from research on those found in floral nectar. Floral NIMs influence nectar nutrition, pollinator attraction, and overall plant fitness. Much less is known on the microbes inhabiting extrafloral nectar. As different insect guilds visit extrafloral nectaries (EFNs), it is likely that the microbial communities differ between these two structures. Ants are the main consumers of extrafloral nectar and generally have complex relationships with both plants and the microbes associated with their colonies. The presence and species of ants foraging on a plant bearing EFNs therefore could potentially influence its extrafloral NIM community structure, and ultimately the fitness of the plant itself. Furthermore, ants may feed on honeydew excreted by sapsucking insects, a sugary resource that harbors its own suite of microbes. Many economically important crops produce extrafloral nectar, and future work that would elucidate the relationship between ants, microbes, honeydew-producers, and the plants they interact with has implications for management of agroecosystems and sustainable food production. © 2026 The Author(s).

Publication Title

Myrmecological News

Publication Date

2026

Volume

36

First Page

121

Last Page

135

ISSN

1994-4136

DOI

10.25849/myrmecol.news_036:121

Keywords

agriculture, bacteria, Formicidae, honeydew, Hymenoptera, microbiome, mutualism, yeast

Cross Post Location

Student Publications

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