Amazing Symbiosis: Ant Army Defends Tree | National Geographic

whenever a huge tree falls in the Costa

whenever a huge tree falls in the Costa Rican rainforest a gap of sunlight is

Rican rainforest a gap of sunlight is

Rican rainforest a gap of sunlight is formed in the canopy new life competes

formed in the canopy new life competes

formed in the canopy new life competes for this light like this vine racing

for this light like this vine racing

for this light like this vine racing this sapling upward but there’s one tree

this sapling upward but there’s one tree

this sapling upward but there’s one tree that never has any competition thanks to

that never has any competition thanks to

that never has any competition thanks to an incredible symbiotic relationship it

an incredible symbiotic relationship it

an incredible symbiotic relationship it shares with an ant the swollen thorn

shares with an ant the swollen thorn

shares with an ant the swollen thorn acacia and its namesake the acacia ant

acacia and its namesake the acacia ant

acacia and its namesake the acacia ant have developed harmonious roles in each

have developed harmonious roles in each

have developed harmonious roles in each other’s lives

other’s lives

other’s lives the anthro is as protector if any of

the anthro is as protector if any of

the anthro is as protector if any of those vines try to steal the acacia

those vines try to steal the acacia

those vines try to steal the acacia slight the ants security guards go to

slight the ants security guards go to

slight the ants security guards go to work a few good chops on the vine stems

work a few good chops on the vine stems

work a few good chops on the vine stems and it lights out for the vine the ants

and it lights out for the vine the ants

and it lights out for the vine the ants don’t stop there this relatively huge

don’t stop there this relatively huge

don’t stop there this relatively huge grasshopper may think it’s gonna take a

grasshopper may think it’s gonna take a

grasshopper may think it’s gonna take a few bites out of the non poisonous

few bites out of the non poisonous

few bites out of the non poisonous acacia but the ants take a few bites out

acacia but the ants take a few bites out

acacia but the ants take a few bites out of it instead

and they throw in a few stings for good

and they throw in a few stings for good measure in exchange for all this

measure in exchange for all this

measure in exchange for all this protection the tree takes on the

protection the tree takes on the

protection the tree takes on the provider role it gives the insect

provider role it gives the insect

provider role it gives the insect everything it needs in terms of food and

everything it needs in terms of food and

everything it needs in terms of food and shelter these little nodules or

shelter these little nodules or

shelter these little nodules or nectaries secrete a sweet nectar for the

nectaries secrete a sweet nectar for the

nectaries secrete a sweet nectar for the adult ants to eat and these brownish

adult ants to eat and these brownish

adult ants to eat and these brownish pods at the end of some leaves are the

pods at the end of some leaves are the

pods at the end of some leaves are the perfect nutrient packed food for the

perfect nutrient packed food for the

perfect nutrient packed food for the ants developing young called larvae the

ants developing young called larvae the

ants developing young called larvae the acacia ant larvae live down hollowed out

acacia ant larvae live down hollowed out

acacia ant larvae live down hollowed out thorns at the base of the acacia leaves

some will eventually grow into adults

some will eventually grow into adults with wings and will fly off to replicate

with wings and will fly off to replicate

with wings and will fly off to replicate this evolutionary masterpiece in a new

this evolutionary masterpiece in a new

this evolutionary masterpiece in a new acacia