Sclerocactus parviflorus

[DesertZone]

Sclerocactus parviflorus
 
Flower and new starts out the sides and ant damage



and ant damage

[Weiser]

Hi Aaron

Nice looking Schlero. A little strange to see the flower developing so low on the side of the stem. Mine has only bloomed from the apex.
What kind of ants are chewing on it? Harvester? What ever they are they must be after moisture, I can't think what else they would want. Don't know about you but I'd be on the war path!!  >

How old do you estimate this plant is? The spines look like mine when it was still a juvenile. It took about four years before mine started to develop the long fish hook central spines.

[DesertZone]

Hi John,
This is the ant that does it, it does not look like the harvesters I have here.  It is an ant that likes aphids and sweet stuff, kind of a troubled pest, but they are the only thing that can pollenate my yuccas because I don't have yucca moths here.  The cover the seed pods sometimes and will chew holes into them and sometimes give seed.
They were wild here before I moved out here.


Here is a seed pod they pollenated, and the seed was fertile.

 

[Weiser]

Ya  that's not a harvester. Kind of reminds me of the Western Thatching Ants. The type that build those largish grass and stick mounds. If that's the case the most likely species is Formica obscuripes.
http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_OA_FobscuripesInfo.htm

Interesting that they pollinate your yuccas flowers on occasion. I've never seen that before.

Here are a couple of photos of my plant.
 

[DesertZone]

Ya  that's not a harvester. Kind of reminds me of the Western Thatching Ants. The type that build those largish grass and stick mounds. If that's the case the most likely species is Formica obscuripes.
http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_OA_FobscuripesInfo.htm

Interesting that they pollinate your yuccas flowers on occasion. I've never seen that before.

Here are a couple of photos of my plant.
 

Thanks for the ant page!  I have tried to find that ant on the web.  That is what it is.
Nice cactus, is that as tall as it will get? 
PS do you have yucca moths in your area?

[Weiser]

I don't know how tall they get. I don't think more than eight to ten inches. It is as round as a softball and expands a little each year. There is a lot of variation in the growth habit and flower color in this species.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/SCLEROCACTUS/Sclerocactus_parviflorus/Sclerocactus_parviflorus/Sclerocactus_parviflorus.htm

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415288

In answer to you inquiry, no Yuccas are not native to this region of Nevada so no yucca moths around.

[DesertZone]

Thanks for the info.
 I was thinking because Reno is so big some moths my have invaded from yuccas shipments?  I know I get a lot of doubt when I tell people that ants pollinated my yuccas and not moths.

Are you feeling better?
 

[Weiser]

It's been a good year since my incident no problems at all. I just saw the heart doctor every this is OK and I feel great. I should be around for a while!

[DesertZone]

The is great news

I have enjoyed all the seed you gave me, but so has the wildlife.  Now I know why you don't see eriogonum as seedlings.  I had a bunch come up, but then one morring they are all but gone. >  I have been protecting the few I still have.