Ants eat 'medicinal' insects to get better.

A recent study conducted by Jason Rissanen and his team at the University of Graz in Austria has found that some ants eat aphids that contain antiseptic properties in order to treat infections. The researchers collected 30 nests of wild silky ants and infected half of them with a harmful fungus. They then provided all the ants with different food mixes, including one with crushed aphids. Aphids contain hydrogen peroxide, which is harmful to ants but can help them defend against pathogens. The study found that infected ants consumed up to 50% of their food from the high-aphid mix, but switched back to the standard food after fighting off the fungus. [Extracted from the article]