Skip to main content

Eastern Ant Cricket

Myrmecophilus pergandei

Photo by Tom15
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

42.6112, -71.5745

Field Notes

Notes:

These tiny crickets are always associated with ants. They use their antennae to tickle the ants into excreting a drop fluid that they drink, similar to ants drinking nectar they get from aphids they attend.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
Tom15
Mark, here's a paper that says the crickets strigilate the ants supposedly to feed on oily secretions and to engage the ants in trophallaxis. http://www.mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu/Researchtaxapages/Formicidaepages/ant.publications/Myrm.pergandei.pdf
Mark Ridgway
Thanks Tom. I wonder what type of fluid the ants drop.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
New England Arthropods
Photographed
PublishedNovember 13, 2013

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies