Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Ants (Formicoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Formicinae » Lasiini » False Honey Ants (Prenolepis) » False Honey Ant (Prenolepis imparis)
Photo#43115
Ant caring for aphid - Prenolepis imparis
Copyright © 2006 Lynette Elliott

Ant caring for aphid - Prenolepis imparis
Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, North Carolina, USA
February 14, 2006
Size: under 5 mm
To see this photo the ant looks viscious, but to watch it care for this little aphid gives one a whole new perspective.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 17 February, 2006 - 8:52am
Last updated 30 November, 2010 - 6:25pm

Moved
Moved from Ants. Thanks James. I'm happy with just ant ID on this one.
… Lynette Elliott, 30 November, 2010 - 6:25pm login or register to post comments

The ant is ...
Prenolepis imparis. Should this be moved to unidentified aphids until someone can way in on the ID of that bug. My 2 cents: Looks like an immature of one of those big gray pine aphids to me.
… James C. Trager, 30 November, 2010 - 4:49pm login or register to post comments

Aphid?
The hind legs and the body shape don't look like those of an aphid- nymph of some hopper, perhaps?
… Chuck Entz, 18 February, 2006 - 9:36am login or register to post comments

 
Yes aphid
I'm pretty sure, but not positive...I guess it could be a mimic of some kind....I don't know why the ant would be tending to it, though.
This page shows a Blue Aphid with long rear legs. I'm not sure that's what the aphid in this photo is, though. Also check out the legs on this aphid...

… Lynette Elliott, 18 February, 2006 - 10:37am login or register to post comments

 
Just my impression
I don't pretend to know aphids that much, so you may very well be right. As for the ant-tending, a surprising variety of Homopterans exude honeydew and are tended by ants.
… Chuck Entz, 18 February, 2006 - 1:05pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact