Aphid eating ants???

Okay so I have these milkweed plants. Aphids are starting to be a big problem. The weird thing is that when I got to smash the aphids there are black ants running all over the area where the aphids are. I knew ladybugs ate aphids, is there some kind of ant that does that I have never heard of? I continue to smash the little suckers but those ants sure look like that is what they are doing. Found it very interesting and thought some of you guys might know about these ants.

Thanks

Leslie

Hi Leslie, it seems the ants and aphids have this special relationship. Here's a note about that:

http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2007/10/_ants_and_aphids_have.php

I think the aphids use the ants too....they probably protect them from ladybugs and other predators.

Ooh thanks fly girl. Just the info I needed.

Leslie

Thanks for the article, fly girl!! I learned a lot about the symbiotic relationship between ants and aphids. The article was very informative and interesting!!

Thanks again,

Chuck