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weaver ants (& scale insects)

Oecophylla smaragdina

Photo by Scott Frazier
Published on Project Noah
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-2.56289, 140.504

Field Notes

Description:

Weaver ants "tending" scale insects. "Weaver ants also have an adverse effect on tree productivity by protecting sap feeding insects such as scale insects and leafhoppers from which they collect honeydew. By protecting these insects from predators they increase their population and increase the damage they cause to trees."

Habitat:

This spotting on a leaf of Heliconia sp. in a large semi-urban yard and garden adjacent to a disturbed patch of remnant forest.

Notes:

This species has increased its presence drastically in the past year and now can be seen on all manner of shrubs and trees, and even herbaceous flowers in my yard & garden (as can be seen in this spotting).

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Someone seems to be taking advantage of your garden close by! Love the interactive stories in nature!
Thank you. I know, I get bitten frequently! They smell bad too...
Lovely capture and good information..and their bite is very painful too..

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