Ants and Aphids

It’s one of those things you read about and hear about all the time but seldom see. Then one day you happen to notice an odd discoloration on plant such as a sunflower. You look a bit closer and notice something even more odd – the discoloration is moving.

So you look closer. And there they are herding and milking aphids in the same way we humans herd dairy cows.

In this case a species of harvester ants tends to a herd of root aphids common throughout North America. It’s a real bargain for both the insect and the tiny invertebrates that belong to the Aphidae family.

Ants protect their herd as fearlessly as sheep dogs and reap a reward of sweet nectar by a specialized tapping of their antenna against the rear of the aphid. This nectar, called honey dew, is produced from the anus of the aphid. Despite the fact that aphids are a major agricultural pest this unique invertebrate relationship is fascinating to observe.

HOOAH

Jack