I believe its the ant. I recall seeing on TV that there are certain species of ants that will literally enslave other species of ants and other insects in general. Can anyone refresh my memory?
2007-02-01 01:53:05 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
yes, there are a number of species of slavemaker ants. They are also called amazon ants.They go on raids to steal immature stages (pupae) out of the nests of other ant species and bring them to their own nest. When those ants emerge out of their pupae, they don't know that they are not in their home nest and will behave as if they belong to this other nest, doing the normals tasks a worker ant does for a nest.
More details see link.
I don't think aphids or caterpillars count as ant slaves as the relationship is more mutualistic, the ants protect the aphids and caterpillars from predators for which the aphids "pay" by sugar secretions they don't have a use for anyway. So the relationship is to the benefit of both species.
2007-02-01 02:06:28 · answer #1 · answered by eintigerchen 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
There is one species of ant called the slave-maker ant. The workers will raid the nest of another species, and return to their own nest with the eggs and larvae of the other species. Once inside the nest, the queen releases pheromones which actually change the way the other species larvae develop. In any event both species co-exist and both benefit. The slave makers now have new ants to do all the hard labour, but the "slaves" also are provided with food and shelter.....I guess you can call it forced mutualism....hahaha
Hope this helps!
2007-02-01 04:21:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Ants for certain, with caterpillars and aphids... smart little creatures. I cannot recall if any other species does this or not... mostly parasitic relations with other species.
2007-02-01 02:04:41 · answer #3 · answered by Invisible_Flags 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a very interesting question. I seem to remember somewhere seeing that the Ant does in fact do this.
2007-02-01 01:56:54 · answer #4 · answered by Scary Monster 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ants for sure. I have a cherry tree, and ants have aphid farms at the ends of almost every branch.
2007-02-01 02:00:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
ants..spiders..centepedes..beetles..grasshoppers..
roaches..caterpillars
2007-02-01 03:10:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋