Why Do Farmer Ants Tolerate These Freeloading, Baby-Eating Parasites Anyway? (IMAGE)

Ohio State University

Why Do Farmer Ants Tolerate These Freeloading, Baby-Eating Parasites Anyway?

Caption

The parasitic Megalomyrmex symmetochus ant crashes colonies of fungus-farming Sericomyrmex amabilis ants, eating crops and killing babies. New research suggests the farmers let it slide because of the intruders' potent chemical weaponry.

Credit

(Image by David Nash, courtesy of The Ohio State University)

Usage Restrictions

with credit

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.