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Photo#1569105
Ants - Crematogaster

Ants - Crematogaster
Walking Iron County Park, Mazomanie, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
July 19, 2018
Ants with aphids on a 3 foot tall black oak (Quercus velutina). My impression is that the ants had formed the covering around the stem by chewing away portions of the bark, so that the aphids would both be protected and be able to feed on sap from the stem. But I'd appreciate a more knowledgeable take :-)
Aphids here:

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Ants - Crematogaster Ants - Crematogaster Ants - Crematogaster Ants - Crematogaster Ants - Crematogaster

Moved
That was an accidental move (I intended to leave them at Crematogaster); thanks for catching it!

Moved from Crematogaster laeviuscula.

Crematogaster
More likely that this is one of the more northern species, like cerasi

Moved
Thanks Seth.

Moved from Ants.

Crematogaster
Acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) do tend to aphids. I don't know of them actively changing trees to better protect/feed them (and in my observations they seem more concerned with relocating them and removing wings to keep them local than their actual welfare) and I don't know that they're really built for chewing through bark - but I suppose its possible

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