• wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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    3 hours ago

    Except for the part where they breed captive aphids and corral them to and from plants so they can feed, only to lacerate their exoskeletons and feed on their secretions while keeping them alive to do it again…

    • brown567@sh.itjust.works
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      2 hours ago

      Lacerate their exoskeleton? Do you have a source for that? According to Wikipedia, the honeydew is excreted from the aphids’ anus and happens even when the ants aren’t involved https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid#Ant_mutualism

      Edit: I’m not trying to be the guy who yells “SoUrCe!?” whenever presented new information, I’d just like to correct my misunderstanding if I’m wrong but don’t want to incorporate misinformation XD

      • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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        1 hour ago

        I coulda sworn I’ve read somewhere that they make a light incision to get to the honeydew, but it could be a false memory. I’m not gonna go looking for where I read that, but I’ll accept “they eat ass” as a correct answer.