Ants farm aphids. They care for them, offer protection, and literally “farm” them – much like humans farm their livestock. Picture ants wearing the frayed straw hat, dirty blue dungarees or coveralls, ...

Some ants treat their own infections by eating aphids containing an antiseptic ingredient. In previous laboratory experiments, silky ants (Formica fusca) with fungal infections chose to eat food laced ...

Ant-aphid mutualisms represent classic examples of interspecific cooperation, in which aphids excrete carbohydrate-rich honeydew that ants harvest in return for protection against predators, ...

Ants and aphids on a poplar leaf: When aphids infest plants, ants are often also present. The ants do not prey on the small insects, but are interested in their honeydew. In return, they even protect ...

Aphids attract beneficial bugs and pollinators.

Q. Ever since the rain came, we’ve been invaded by ants. They are really tiny and get into everything! I first encountered Argentine ants after moving to California and knew they were not like any ...