corn field ant

insect

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Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The cornfield ant, scientifically known as Lasius alienus, is a dark brown North American ant. This species is notable for its symbiotic relationship with the corn-root aphid (Anuraphis maidiradicis), which feeds on the roots of maize and cotton. The cornfield ant plays a crucial role in distributing and caring for these aphids. Ants, in general, are social insects found worldwide, living in organized colonies and forming essential parts of their ecosystems. They exhibit a wide range of diets, including plant-based foods like nectar and saps, as well as animal matter.1234

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homopteran
Honeydew
…corn root aphid and the corn field ant. The ants collect eggs in autumn, carry them to their nests, maintain the eggs through the winter, and place the young aphids on the roots of small weeds and grasses in the spring. As soon as newly planted corn seeds germinate, the…
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…corn root aphid and the corn field ant. The ants collect eggs in autumn, carry them to their nests, maintain the eggs through the winter, and place the young aphids on the roots of small weeds and grasses in the spring. As soon as newly planted corn seeds germinate, the…
Read More