2 NEW MYRMECOPHYTIC ASSOCIATIONS FROM THE MALAY PENINSULA - ANTS OF THE GENUS CLADOMYRMA (FORMICIDAE, CAMPONOTINAE) AS PARTNERS OF SARACA-THAIPINGENSIS (CAESALPINIACEAE) AND CRYPTERONIA-GRIFFITHII (CRYPTERONIACEAE)

In Peninsular Malaysia the trees Saraca thaipingensis (Caesalpiniaceae) and Crypteronia griffithii (Crypteroniaceae) are inhabited by ants. In the vicinity of Gombak, near Kuala Lumpur, the hollow internodes of young Saraca thaipingensis plants are colonized mainly by two Cladomyrma species. In larger trees a Crematogaster sp. is also found. Crypteronia griffithii is inhabited by a third species of Cladomyrma. None of these species is conspecific with any of the three Cladomyrma taxa so far described. The colonies are founded by single mated queens, which have a conspicuous, sphecid wasp-like behaviour when searching for host plants and nest sites. They chew holes into the plant internodes and hollow them out to provide nest sites. Coccids and pseudococcids are cultivated within the internodes. The homopterans are not carried by queens on their nuptial flights. They apparently find their way by themselves into the cavities or are perhaps carried there by the worker ants. The Cladomyrma ants on Crypteronia are not aggressive, in contrast to those on Saraca thaipingensis. The relationship of Crypteronia with ants seems to be obligatory, whereas Saraca was only partly colonized by Cladomyrma. The interaction of Saraca with Crematogaster sp. is loose and facultative, since the Crematogaster sp. also lives on other three species. Our studies have now revealed four Cladomyrma spp. which are regularly associated with plants. The genus therefore seems to have an entirely myrmecophytic way of life.