Asian Weaver Ants extracting honeydew from an aphid

Asian Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina), or Weaver Ants, have a mutualistic relationship with aphids. They farm these insects by protecting them on the plants where they feed and consuming the honeydew released from the ends of their digestive systems. The ants 'milk' the aphids by gently stroking them with their antennae to encourage honeydew production. Interestingly, the presence of ants affects the feeding behavior of aphids; those attended by ants tend to produce honeydew in smaller drops that are more concentrated with amino acids. This rare interaction was observed in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on March 26, 2025.