So I think in nature at least they coexist....
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
I live in Thailand. When we moved into our current house there was a lone
orchid plant left from the prior occupants. Over the years I continue to add
to that collection. We have two mango trees and for the first year the trees
contained huge colony/colonies of Weaver Ants, They were most annoying when
I trimmed the tree. When I climbed up and cut or sawed off sections the ants
would come out in force to attack. One of the trees is at least a part time
home to a Asian Water Dragon, geckos and a snake or two. I keep my orchids,
Aspleniums and Tillandsias out in the yard in/under/around the mango tree
and other shade areas of the yard. I think there was an ant war and the
weaver ants lost out to the little black ones. They are everywhere. I have
no idea what they are called. Anyway, they are around my orchids, Aspleniums
and Tills with no problem at all. There is more than just anecdotal evidence
of their beneficial or at least benign relationship with epiphytes. The book
"Vascular Epiphytes" by David H Benzing discusses the relationships at
length.
