myrmecophile
/mɜrˈmɛkəˌfaɪl/
noun
- An organism that lives in a close, often beneficial relationship with ants, typically inside or near an ant colony.
- Myrmecophiles have evolved chemical signals that trick ants into accepting them as colony members.
- Certain beetles are myrmecophiles that live inside ant nests and feed on ant waste.
- The caterpillar of this butterfly is a myrmecophile, cared for by ants in exchange for a sweet liquid.
Synonyms