adjective
- living in or having a close association with ants; attracted to or dependent on ants for survival or reproduction
Usage: biology; entomology; formal
Examples
- Many myrmecophilous beetles have evolved specialized structures to communicate with their ant hosts.
- The myrmecophilous plant produces nectar that attracts ants to protect it from herbivores.
- Certain myrmecophilous insects mimic ant pheromones to infiltrate colonies.
- The researcher studied myrmecophilous organisms in the rainforest ecosystem.
- Some myrmecophilous fungi depend entirely on ants for dispersal and survival.