國立自然科學博物館

螞蟻與蚜蟲的共生關係，讓微小的蚜蟲得以生存，蟻群也能從中獲得食物。螞蟻有兩個胃，其中一個是用於儲存食物並分享給群體的嗉囊，故也被稱做「社會性胃」。外出覓食的工蟻找到食物時會不停的進食並將過多的食物存儲於嗉囊，以便回巢之後能交哺給有需要的夥伴。此張照片清楚可見工蟻腹部已貯滿了蜜露，卻仍不停督促蚜蟲繼續生產蜜露並進食。

Ants and aphids have a symbiotic relationship in which aphids obtain protection and ants get food. Ants have two stomachs. One is a crop used for storing the food and sharing with members of the colony, also known as “the social stomach”. When worker ants are outside the colony foraging for food, they constantly eat, storing excess food in the crop to share upon their return. This image clearly shows that the abdomens of these worker ants are filled with honeydew. However, they continue to eat and urge the aphids to produce more.

林淑英-螞蚜的秘蜜1