20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Symbiosis
I saw some honey dew produced by Oecophylla smaragdina on the branch after licking the bottom of the leafhopper. After careful observation, I found that there were two different kinds of gray butterfly larvae and a group of leafhoppers gathered together. Oecophylla smaragdina needs the excrement of grey butterfly larvae and leafhoppers. Oecophylla smaragdina is like a herder. They can enjoy sweet milk at any time.
Photo Detail
Date Taken: | 09.2021 |
Date Uploaded: | 11.2022 |
Photo Location: | Xishuangbanna, China |
Camera: | NIKON Z 7_2 |
Copyright: | © Yuan Minghui |