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Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

sciencedaily.com

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Re: Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

#42

Post by thaumasiotes »

novia wrote: post #37
awakeasleep wrote: post #8

why haven't any animals adapted to this role for humans!

You too can let ants crawl all over you. They will find snacks.

If you do this, you will start to develop spontaneous feelings of ants crawling all over you whether or not they're really there. I wouldn't recommend it.

Re: Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

#44

Post by x______________ »

14 wrote: post #35

I am surprised they used the comparison of the fish over the practice of "anting" which is a behavior that more than 200 species of birds do in which they will land on an ant next and allow ants to crawl all over them. The theory being that the ants release formic acid which is a natural defense against parasites, fungi and mites. I have a couple ant nests on my property and have witnessed several crows at a time lan…

> I have a couple ant nests on my property and have witnessed several crows at a time land on the nests and do this behaviour on multiple occasions.

Would love to see some video footage of this!

Re: Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

#45

Post by occamofsandwich »

14 wrote: post #35

I am surprised they used the comparison of the fish over the practice of "anting" which is a behavior that more than 200 species of birds do in which they will land on an ant next and allow ants to crawl all over them. The theory being that the ants release formic acid which is a natural defense against parasites, fungi and mites. I have a couple ant nests on my property and have witnessed several crows at a time lan…

> What ever the reason the bigger ants are allowing this to happen I am convinced that there is some sort of beneficial reason.

Isn't it an opportunity to find lice and ticks?

Re: Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

#46

Post by fhdkweig »

buildbot wrote: post #14
encrux wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a Sense, cats did actually. Not through direct contact, but by getting rid of mice and rats that infiltrate food storage.

Cat’s will also literally try to clean you as well!

Cats love the taste of earwax. They will give you a wet willy while you sleep.

Re: Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

#47

Post by fhdkweig »

kwertyoowiyop wrote: post #34
emmelaich wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or jungle ants... "Commissioner: Leiningen, you're up against a monster twenty miles long and two miles wide... forty square miles of agonizing death! You can't stop it! " -- quote from The Naked Jungle. Trivia - I believe this is from where Clojure got their build tool name.

The movie is from the classic original story “Leinengen Versus the Ants”: The Brazilian official threw up lean and lanky arms and clawed the air with wildly distended fingers. "Leiningen!" he shouted. "You're insane! They're not creatures you can fight--they're an elemental--an 'act of God!' Ten miles long, two miles wide--ants, nothing but ants!”

I first learned about it through the Season 1, Episode 6 MacGyver episode Trumbo's World.
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