Key Points Aphids damage plants by stunting growth, delaying flowers, and attracting ants that protect them.Non-chemical ...

Ants farm aphids. They care for them, offer protection, and literally "farm" them – much like humans farm their livestock. Picture ants wearing the frayed straw hat, dirty blue dungarees or coveralls, ...

The ants protect the aphid colonies from insect predators and fungal infections and in some cases may take the aphids into shelter from inclement weather. In a few cases the aphids have evolved a way ...

Some ants treat their own infections by eating aphids containing an antiseptic ingredient. In previous laboratory experiments, silky ants (Formica fusca) with fungal infections chose to eat food laced ...

Ants are seldom included in the list of garden pests because some are beneficial because they snack on unwanted insects. However, every Southerner knows that aggressive fire ants are never welcome, ...

Ants and aphids on a poplar leaf: When aphids infest plants, ants are often also present. The ants do not prey on the small insects, but are interested in their honeydew. In return, they even protect ...

Ants have been extremely plentiful again this year. Did you have a glass encased “ant farm” when you were a kid? Did you know that ants also “farm”? They do! Even in our climate you can find a ...

Aphids attract beneficial bugs and pollinators.