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An unusual ant diet:Cataglyphis floricola feeding on petals

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Summary

C. floricola is an endemic species from the southern Iberian Peninsula which collects large amounts ofHalimium halimifolium petals. Laboratory and field observations confirm that both workers and larvae feed on these petals, which represent an important food resource forC. floricola colonies. This petal consumption is a very unusual ant diet.

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Cerdá, X., Retana, J., Carpintero, S. et al. An unusual ant diet:Cataglyphis floricola feeding on petals. Ins. Soc 43, 101–104 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01253960

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01253960

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