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region—who show up with compassion and consistency.
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#recovery #odaat #Homelessness #Boston #northshorema #hope #Donuts #honeydew #mentalhealth #shelter #housing #nonprofits #hunger #volunteering #communitycare
The #slave #ant #Formica #fusca (#Formicinae) is seen here on common #tansy collecting #honeydew from and guarding the #aphid #Metopeurum #fuscoviride. The #workers of this ant #species, which builds #polygynous subterranean nests, are often exploited by other species for nest building. As C. Carere et al. (2018) found, there is a linear link between #individual and #collective #behavior.
©#StefanFWirth Berlin 2025
Ref
C. Carere et al. (2018)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2018.07.009
#Photos
©S F. Wirth 2025
The pink #tansyaphid #Metopeurum #fuscoviride is native to Europe and prefers forming large #colonies on #tansy #Tanacetum #vulgare.This aphid is very attractive for #ants, as one aphid has a high #honeydew #production with in average 1 milligram of honeydew per hour. Authors M. K. Fischer et al. (2002) found the #aminoacid #concentration in honeydew increasing with #aphid age.
© #StefanFWirth #Berlin 2025
Ref
M. K. Fischer et al. (2002)
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1910(01)00179-2
#Photos
© S F. Wirth 2025