Ant Herding a lone Aphid
I used to think that aphids gathered together and the ants came along, protected the aphids from predation, then helped themselves to the convenient on-tap aphid-juice.
After watching them for a bit, it looks as though the ants actively herd the loose aphids into groups.
Picture this.. a lone aphid, on the journey of its life:
Then along comes the ever efficious ant farmer..
And then it’s the end of the road. No more adventure, only a life of sucking plant sap and being milked by a herd of wild ants. (not those tame ants, but the wild ones!)
Add comment July 3rd, 2006