Image: Loxura atymnus-Kadavoor-2018-06-18-001

Description: Loxura atymnus, Yamfly, is a species of Lycaenidae found in Asia. There are several types of nectaries in the orchids, including extrafloral types that secrete nectar on the outside of the buds or inflorescence while the flower is developing. In contrast to floral nectaries, nectar produced outside the flower generally have a defensive function. The nectar attracts predatory insects which will eat both the nectar and any plant-eating insects around, thus functioning as 'bodyguards'. Foraging predatory insects show a preference for plants with extrafloral nectaries, particularly some species of ants and wasps, which have been observed to directly defend the plants. Loxura atymnus is famous for consuming nectar secreted from the extrafloral nectaries stimulated by the ants. Here they are on a Philippine orchid bud along with some Yellow crazy ants.
Title: Loxura atymnus-Kadavoor-2018-06-18-001
Credit: Own work
Author: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India
Permission: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publishes it under the following license:
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
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