A ladybug eats about 400 plant lice every day.
Unlike ladybugs, ants protect these plant lice.
This is the carpenter ant.
Upon seeing the ladybug out to kill the plant lice,
this carpenter ant tries desperately to chase off
the ladybug much bigger in size.
Why is the carpenter ant defending the plant louse?
The feces excreted by the louse is sweet-tasting.
The ant is protecting the plant louse for its
sweet juice. The sweet juice flows out if the ant
taps the plant louse with its antenna.