Myrmecophiles

Myrmecophiles may occupy a variety of ecological niches within their host ant colony. Some consume waste materials in the nests, such as dead ants, dead larvae, or fungi growing in the nest. A few feed on external secretions of ants and some are fed directly by their host ants. Some myrmecophiles feed on the stored food supplies of ants, and a few are predatory on ant eggs, larvae, pupae or even adults. Others benefit the ants by providing a food source for them. Many myrmecophilous relationships are obligate, meaning one or the other participant requires the relationship for survival. Some associations are facultative, benefiting one or both participants but not being necessary to their survival. Many myrmecophiles await discovery and for many the nature of the relationship with their host is unknown.



Myrmecophilidae
There are five genera of ant-loving crickets in this family and around 100 species. World-wide in distribution, many species are found with different species and genera of ant hosts. Many ant hosts are still unknown. All species are relatively small, wingless and flattened. These crickets do not produce sound and lack wings. There are no tympanal organs on the front tibia.

Scydamaenidae
There are one hundred-seventeen species in twenty genera associated with 45 species of ants in twenty-eight different genera.

Lycaenidae

 * Lepidoptera / Butterflies
 * Phengaris (=Maculinea) (Lycaenidae) - Sielezniew et al. (2015) - Caterpillars develop on specific host plants (depending on species: Thymus or Origanum, Gentiana and Sanguisorba) and complete their development inside the nests of specific red ants (Myrmica sp.) as social parasites feeding on the hosts’ brood, or being fed by trophallaxis (Thomas, 1995).
 * ant hosts
 * Myrmica schencki host of Mountain Alcon Blue (Phengaris rebeli) - fairly well studied association, see M. schencki species page
 * Myrmica lonae host of Large Blue (Phengaris arion)

Mites
Organisms that use ants for dispersal.
 * Mites (Acari)