• NakariLexfortaine@lemm.ee
      1·
      1 year ago

      They do! Well, at least certain species do. They groom the aphids to harvest a sweet excretion.

      It’s a really neat relationship.

        • NakariLexfortaine@lemm.ee
          1·
          1 year ago

          Well, there’s at least video of ants getting the honeydew, so I guess if one’s kinky enough, it’s porn for ants.

      • pjhenry1216@kbin.social
        1·
        1 year ago

        I mean, it’s not just any excretion. It’s a byproduct of sorts of the aphids digestive system.

        From wikipedia on “Honeydew (secretion)”:

        When their mouthpart penetrates the phloem, the sugary, high-pressure liquid is forced out of the anus of the aphid.