Myrmecophile (Noun)
Meaning
An organism such as an insect that habitually shares the nest of a species of ant.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The beetle was a myrmecophile, living among the ants in their underground colony.
- The myrmecophile spider had evolved to mimic the chemical signals of its host ant species.
- Some species of butterflies have a larval stage that is a myrmecophile, relying on ants for protection and food.
- The myrmecophile insect was tolerated by the ants because it provided them with a valuable source of nutrients.
- In complex ecosystems, myrmecophiles such as certain beetles play important roles in the social dynamics of ant colonies.