Ants Milking Aphids

Ants farm Aphids

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ants
• Aphids
• insects
• nature

[philcovers]

@kickflipinyaface The ants not only "drink" the mlk themselves but take some to their babies. It is not milk though in the sense that cowes milk is intended for calves, the aphids just ouse the liquid from their backs when stroked. The ants actually "FARM" the aphids, they like the "milk" so much. They carry the aphids to new young plants. and even store them in their nests with grass.... Life at all different levels is far more amazing that most know, Glad you liked it *SMILES*

[Rienei]

they say adding ladybugs to your garden helps eliminate these stuff. But these ants protect them so it doesnt help in the end?

[philcovers]

@Rienei Yes that is true, and we encourage them :)

I took that little video purely because of the interrest, not many people know that ants actually "cultivate" aphids!. They actually place the aphids on nice juicy young shoots. Life is far more complicated that most people realise!

Glad to have your comments

*SMILES*

[kickflipinyaface]

@philcovers Ants relationship with aphids remind me of our relationship with cows, what do the ants do with the milk they get from aphids? if they drink it then the INCREDIBLE similarity will make me for some reason smile.

[philcovers]

@kickflipinyaface The ants not only "drink" the mlk themselves but take some to their babies. It is not milk though in the sense that cowes milk is intended for calves, the aphids just ouse the liquid from their backs when stroked. The ants actually "FARM" the aphids, they like the "milk" so much. They carry the aphids to new young plants. and even store them in their nests with grass.... Life at all different levels is far more amazing that most know, Glad you liked it *SMILES*

[iPopcorn]

What species of ants are comfirmed to farm aphids?

[DanishnSonic]

@philcovers its honey dew and they do not feed it to their babies.they feed meat to their babies the adult drinks liquid.they are not humans you know

[thebestyearwas1971]

Are they Myrmica Rubra or another species of formica ants?

What plant are the Aphids feeding off?

[kitkitmeow24]

@philcovers its not really milk,the 'milk' is a sugary liquid called honeydew

[AliasAce18]

@JellyKimSugarBoom14 Ditto

[JellyKimSugarBoom14]

I know what im doing nxt time we run out of milk :p

[mironyuk]

How do you get rid of these pests, aphids destroy green houses!!!!

[kickflipinyaface]

@philcovers that's very cool, thanks for the information.