Ants feeding on Scale insect

Ants have a symbiotic relationship with scale bugs. Scale insects obtain their own food from plants and pass some of it on to the ants as highly nutritious nectar or honey dew. In return, the ants tenderly look after and protect them from predators. By stroking the back of the scale insects with their antennae, the ants can induce a honeydew droplet.The ants may move the insects to areas on the plants with the best sap. When it rains they may move them to sheltered places, even sometimes into their own nests.