Camponotus compressus
Camponotus compressus is a type of ground-nesting species of ant found in India and Southeast Asia. It is a frequent visitor to toilets as it consumes urea.[1] It is one of the many species which tends plant-sap-sucking insects like aphids and tree hoppers. They add nutrients into the soil through their discarded waste piles [2] These ants stroke their antenna on the hind parts of these insects stimulating them to excrete a sugar rich liquid, called honeydew, which the ants consume. In return, they are known to protect the insects from predators like ladybugs.
| Camponotus compressus | |
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| Camponotus compressus tending soft scale insects | |
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| Species: | C. compressus |
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| Camponotus compressus (Fabricius, 1787) | |
References
- Shetty, P. S. (1982). "Gustatory preferences of ants (Camponotus compressus) for urea and sugars". Experientia. 38 (2): 259. doi:10.1007/BF01945100.
- "Lycaenid-tending ants can contribute to fitness gain of the infested host plants by providing nutrients". Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 2020. doi:10.1007/s11829-020-09785-2.
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