We found these ants 'farming' aphids on a ragwort plant when we were out walking in the Tyne valley near Wylam this morning.
The ants gently stroke the aphids with their antennae, to encourage them to excrete honeydew that the sweet-toothed ants collect.
I suspect the aphids are ragwort aphids Aphis jacobaeae, but I need to get that confirmed by someone on iSpot. Also need an ID for the ant species.
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