Green tree ants Oecophylla smaragdina farm aphids for their honeydew. They are occasionally referred to as weaver ants because they form large leafy nests bound with silk. Through amazing co-operative strength, they form strings of hundreds of ants anchored at each end only, to forcibly move small branches into position. Other ants glue the leaves together with silk produced by squeezing their larvae.
They aggressively protect their nests and livestock, willingly biting any intruder and projecting streams of ascorbic acid to excite the sensitivity of wounds established with their choppers. If bitten, humans can retaliate in-kind and enjoy the health benefits of an abundant source of vitamin C.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.
check out the mandibles on that ant!
Reminds me of an amusing incident at Faraway Bay in 1996 when a geophysical crew set up a base magnetometer station under a tree, with the sensor hear leaning against.
I smiled at this folly knowing what would happen in time.
At the end of the survey the technician went to recover the base station but yelled a piercing scream whe attacked by the green ants. He parked it in their home tree!
Very amusing:-)
The object of his attention looks a bit like a lerp [though I don’t claim to be an Aphid or lerp expert].
Do these GTAs also farm psyllids?
tamborineman,
The white mass under the ant’s attention is predominantly frass (aphid excrement), with the aphid concealed beneath (you can just make out its right legs).
I do not know if GT Ants also farm psyllids, but they are closely related to aphids, so I would be unsurprised.
Neil,
I am going to disagree and suggest your ant is acutally farming a mealybug, not an aphid.
Also most of ‘the mass’ is the body of the mealybug – perhaps a third or fourth instar.
Rang the local high school today to let them know they now have a platypus in their creek and to let the kids know.
Adults and kids have been working towards re-establishing the nat. environment there for years.
Whether it’s back because or in spite of, you can’t be sure.
Tamborineman, where is your river?
There are platypus living in the Yarra in Melbourne and also the Derwent in Hobart.
Um.. I dunno what to say. These ants are the best! :p Luv them!