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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Ants (Formicidae)
Photo#157188
Aphid Herding
Copyright © 2007 AKCeltics19

Aphid Herding
Thornton, New Hampshire, USA
August 10, 2007
What are these ants doing with the aphids? It doesn't look like they are trying to eat them.
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Contributed by AKCeltics19 on 17 November, 2007 - 2:30pm
Last updated 24 December, 2007 - 12:01pm

Aphid FARMING, actually!
Aphids need protection, and ants provide it. Aphids will exude little droplets of sugar from the plant they are feeding on. The ants will come by, gobble it up and pass it on in the colony. The aphids give the ants some sugar, and the ants protect the aphids and their little 'candy' factory! Many insects find aphids to be tasty little snacks, and the ants ward them off. They also will tend to the aphids. Very fascinating. There are many examples of symbiotic relationships between insects in nature. Some tropical caterpillars do the same thing for ants to protect them.
… Cassie, 17 November, 2007 - 4:57pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Thank you, that was very interesting.
… AKCeltics19, 18 November, 2007 - 8:04pm login or register to post comments

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