Really nice close up pictures. Is the ant eating the insides of the aphid?
Oh no, the ants don’t eat the aphids, at least this one isn’t. The ant is licking up the sweet honeydew that aphids produce.
Re: Your midwifery question?
It would be interesting to know more about the behavior of ants toward the newly emerging babies. Seems the little aphids could be tender and tasty, but I honestly don’t know if the ants ever eat them.
I would suspect these milkweed/oleander aphids are at least potentially toxic, as they are feeding on milkweeds. Not much attacks these.
Really nice close up pictures. Is the ant eating the insides of the aphid?
Oh no, the ants don’t eat the aphids, at least this one isn’t. The ant is licking up the sweet honeydew that aphids produce.
Re: Your midwifery question?
It would be interesting to know more about the behavior of ants toward the newly emerging babies. Seems the little aphids could be tender and tasty, but I honestly don’t know if the ants ever eat them.
I would suspect these milkweed/oleander aphids are at least potentially toxic, as they are feeding on milkweeds. Not much attacks these.