JungleDragon is a nature and wildlife community for photographers, travellers and anyone who loves nature. We're genuine, free, ad-free and beautiful.

Join

good Shepard Ant mutualism<br /> <br /> <br /> Ant tending aphids<br /> <br /> <br /> Ant extracting honeydew from an aphid<br /> Some species of ants &quot;farm&quot; aphids, protecting them on the plants they eat, eating the honeydew that the aphids release from the terminations of their alimentary canals. This is a &quot;mutualistic relationship&quot;.<br /> These &quot;dairying ants&quot; &quot;milk&quot; the aphids by stroking them with their antennae.<br /> <br /> source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid</a> ant,aphid,blossem,macro Click/tap to enlarge

good Shepard

Ant mutualism


Ant tending aphids


Ant extracting honeydew from an aphid
Some species of ants "farm" aphids, protecting them on the plants they eat, eating the honeydew that the aphids release from the terminations of their alimentary canals. This is a "mutualistic relationship".
These "dairying ants" "milk" the aphids by stroking them with their antennae.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid

    comments (4)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Very interesting, Ellen, thanks for sharing! Posted 13 years ago, modified 13 years ago
  2. View Ludo Sak's profile
    Ludo Sak
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Great am or with healthy contrast! Posted 13 years ago
  3. View Ellen de Koster's profile
    Ellen de Koster
    King Cobra
    View King Cobra class
    Thanx
    A     Posted 13 years ago
  4. View Ludo Sak's profile
    Ludo Sak
    Lion
    View Lion class
    NP, good luck shooting more, have fun! Posted 13 years ago

Sign in or Join in order to comment.

No species identified

The species on this photo is not identified yet. When signed in, you can identify species on photos that you uploaded. If you have earned the social image editing capability, you can also identify species on photos uploaded by others.

View Ellen de Koster's profile

By Ellen de Koster

All rights reserved
Uploaded Apr 4, 2012. Captured Apr 4, 2012 16:03.
  • Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
  • f/13.0
  • 1/200s
  • ISO100
  • 105mm