Beltian body explained

A Beltian body is a detachable tip found on the pinnules of some species of Acacia and closely related genera. Beltian bodies, named after Thomas Belt, are rich in lipids, sugars and proteins and often red in colour. They are believed to have evolved in a symbiotic relationship with ants. The ants live inside special plant structures (domatia) or near the plant and keep away herbivores.

Other ant-mutualism related plant structures include Beccarian, Mullerian and pearl bodies.^{[1] [2]}

Unique among spiders for its predominantly herbivorous diet, Bagheera kiplingi feeds almost exclusively on Beltian bodies.^[3]

See also

• Plant defence against herbivory
• Elaiosome

External links

• Web site: Central American Swollen-Thorn Acacias . W.P. . Armstrong . https://web.archive.org/web/20100111140631/http://waynesword.palomar.edu/acacia.htm . 11 January 2010 . dead .

Notes and References

1. Oecologia . The exploitation of an ant-defended host plant by a shelter-building herbivore. 109. 3. 454–460. 1997. Micky D.. Eubanks . Kimberly A. Nesci . Mette K. Petersen . Zhiwei Liu . Horacio Bonfil Sanchez . 10.1007/s004420050105. 28307543 . 1997Oecol.109..454E. 841415 .
2. Book: Herrera, Carlos M.. Olle Pellmyr. 2002. Plant-animal Interactions: An Evolutionary Approach. Blackwell Publishing. 0-632-05267-8.
3. Current Biology. Herbivory in a spider through exploitation of an ant–plant mutualism. 19. 19. 1591–1682. 2009. Christopher J.. Meehan . Eric J. Olson . Matthew W. Reudink . T. Kurt . Robert L. Curry . 10.1016/j.cub.2009.08.049. 19825348. 27885893. free.