Ants — yes, ants — could protect apples, nuts, cocoa, and other beloved crops from disease and climate change.

Not expected to be surprised:
@futurebird

#Nature #ClimateChange #Ants #Agriculture

A secret weapon in agriculture's climate fight: Ants

Ants — yes, ants — could protect apples, nuts, cocoa, and other beloved crops from disease and climate change.

Grist (grist.org)

@joewynne

Many plants recruit ants. The assumed reasons for this are primarily that ants will drive out and eat many herbivorous insects (and even deter some larger vertebrate herbivores) After that possibly pollination?

But this notion that ants may prevent fungi, and other problems (due to the fastidious cleaning habits they have cultivated for millions of years to survive in dense colonies without disease) may help explain just how many plants seem to be "ant seekers."

@joewynne

Some plants roll out a velvet carpet for ants. They have "extra floral nectaries" which are like little juice stations where the ants can drink sweet nectar. Carnivorous plants have been known to host more insect prey so the ants can find the protein they need. And many plants have hollow structures that make perfect humidity regulated nesting places for ants.

We ought to sit up and take notice and learn a thing or two from the plants.