Formica integroides workers tending pine aphids.  The ants obtain a large portion of their energy from symbiotic relationships with hemipterans such as these aphids.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
A minor worker of Camponotus floridanus tending scale insects.  Camponotus are more dependent on honeydew-producing insects than are most other ant species, and their guts contain highly specialized microbes that help the ants thrive on the carbohydrate-rich diet.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida
Camponotus floridanus tending scale insects.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
On the underside of a sun-soaked leaf, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis tending to Entylia sp. treehoppers.  The treehoppers secrete sweet honeydew for the ants in exchange for protections from parasites and predators.

Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA
On the underside of a sun-soaked leaf, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis tending to Entylia sp. treehoppers.  The treehoppers secrete sweet honeydew for the ants in exchange for protections from parasites and predators.

Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA
Aphaenogaster tennesseensis tending to Entylia sp. treehoppers.  The treehoppers secrete sweet honeydew for the ants in exchange for protections from parasites and predators.

Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA
Aphaenogaster tennesseensis tending to Entylia sp. treehoppers.  The spiky-looking bugs are the immature stages of the larger shield-shaped insects.

Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA
Ants (Pheidole megacephala) tending aphids for honeydew.  The tight association of ants and aphids give the ants a significant carbohydrate boost and the aphids protection from predators.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Monomorium floricola ranks among the most traveled of all ants.  This diminutive species has spread with human commerce to nearly every lowland tropical region.  Here, a worker tends to a mealybug in Panama.

Isla Contadora, Panama
Formica integroides workers tending pine aphids. The ants obtain a large portion of their energy from symbiotic relationships with hemipterans such as these aphids.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formica integroides workers tending pine aphids.  The ants obtain a large portion of their energy from symbiotic relationships with hemipterans such as these aphids.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formica integroides workers tending pine aphids. The ants obtain a large portion of their energy from symbiotic relationships with hemipterans such as these aphids.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013