Why Fungus-Farming Ants Tolerate Parasites That Eat Their Crops

Ant expert Rachelle Adams of The Ohio State University has found evidence that could explain why fungus-farming ants tolerate parasites that eat their crops (and their babies.) Adams explains that the intruder ants have volatile compounds on their bodies – essentially powerful chemical weapons – that could be used against the farmers and against more-powerful parasitic foes. Video by Stefanie Neupert and Barbara Shardy, courtesy of The Ohio State University.

[joachimwalle]

Woah, this was super interesting!

The parasite ants are basically playing Splinter Cell; trying to play it by stealth for the most part, but not squeamish about taking out a guard or two if they get discovered.

[jesusthehobbyist]

Yes I found this species both megalomyrmex and trachymyrmex and plan on putting them both in a set up