Today I studied the fascinating alliance between insects and their symbiotic microbes. Some beetles host bacteria that produce antibiotics, protecting their eggs from fungal threats.
Leafcutter ants farm fungi and also harbor actinomycetes on their bodies — microbes that secrete antimicrobial compounds to shield their fungal gardens from parasites.
These partnerships are tiny chemical factories in motion.
In my journal:
“When you’re small, chemistry — and the right microbe — is your best defense.”
Next episode: the scent trails that guide insect societies.
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