@article{fdi:010061372,
  title = {{M}elissotarsus ants are likely able to digest plant polysaccharides},
  author = {{M}ony, {R}. and {D}ejean, {A}. and {B}ilong {B}ilong, {C}. {F}. and {K}enne, {M}. and {R}ouland {L}ef{\`e}vre, {C}orinne},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}elissotarsus ants have an extremely specialized set of behaviours. {B}oth workers and gynes tunnel galleries in their host tree bark. {W}orkers walk with their mesothoracic legs pointing upwards and tend {D}iaspididae hemiptera for their flesh. {T}he ants use their forelegs to plug the galleries with silk that they secrete themselves. {W}e hypothesised that the ants' energetic needs for nearly constant gallery digging could be satisfied through the absorption of host tree tissues; so, using basic techniques, we examined the digestive capacities of workers from two species. {W}e show that workers are able to degrade oligosaccharides and heterosides as well as, to a lesser degree, polysaccharides. {T}his is one of the rare reports on ants able to digest plant polysaccharides other than starch.},
  keywords = {{A}nt-plant interactions ; {M}elissotarsus ants ; {D}egradation of plant material ; {E}nzymatic activity ; {CAMEROUN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}omptes {R}endus {B}iologies},
  volume = {33},
  numero = {10},
  pages = {500--504},
  ISSN = {1631-0691},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.crvi.2013.08.003},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061372},
}