Where Do Ants and Aphids Live?
WouterBesides protecting themselves from predators, ants also provide aphids with sugar-rich honeydew. Ants care for their young, and help protect them from natural enemies. These beneficial insects live in an ecological partnership that dates back to Oligocene times.
Studies have shown that the relationship between ants and aphids is symbiotic. Ants are known to have short legs and pale coloration. Despite their size, they have evolved to survive in cramped spaces beneath the soil surface. Various ant species “milk” aphids for honeydew.
The most common coloration of aphids is green, although red and brown aphids are also present. Lasius japonicus ants are most attracted to green aphids, which produce nutrient-rich honeydew. Ants then secrete chemicals to sedate the aphids and discourage them from flying away.
Ants can also manipulate the reproductive success of aphids. Some aphid species, such as Macrosiphoniella yomogicola, have a two-color colony. The red aphids should dominate the green ones, but when there are no ants, the red aphids equalize the red morphs.
A study on maple aphids showed that ants could wash the aphids with acetone. After the aphids were washed, they were predated more than those that had not been washed. The researchers also observed the speed at which the aphids walked on filter paper. They found that the plain paper moved faster than the ant-walked paper.
An ongoing study is exploring the aphid-ant relationship. Researchers are using specially modified software and a digital camera to record these interactions.
