For the first time, researchers have observed ants secreting a milk-like fluid that nourishes others in the colony.The research, published in Nature on 30 November1, reveals that as pupae — an otherwise inactive developmental stage — ants produce a nutrient-rich fluid that is consumed by both adults and larvae.Newly hatched larvae depend on this fluid to grow and survive, akin to how mammalian newborns depend on milk. If the ant adults and larvae do not consume the fluid, it builds up and becomes contaminated with fungi, which kill the pupae.
Source: Pupating ants make milk — and scientists only just noticed
