ant cow


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ant cow

n.
An aphid that yields a honeylike substance on which ants feed.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ant cow

n
(Animals) an insect, esp an aphid, that excretes a sweet honey-like substance that is collected and eaten by ants
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ant′ cow`


n.
an aphid that excretes honeydew and is tended by honeydew-gathering ants.
[1870–75]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.ant cow - excretes a honeylike substance eaten by antsant cow - excretes a honeylike substance eaten by ants
aphid - any of various small plant-sucking insects
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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Brad Sneed's Deputy Harvey And The Ant Cow Caper (0803730233, $16.99) requires some reading skills but provides exceptionally bright, zany full-page drawings and an unusual mystery story to spice the effort.
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Aphids are also known as ant cows because ants move the aphids eggs to their color to shield them predators and move them back to the plants in the spring.
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They are worker ants that keep herds of "ant cows." The "cows" are really tiny bugs called aphids.
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