What Kind Of Relationship Between Silverfish And Army Ants?

The relationship between silverfish and army ants is an example of commensalism, where silverfish live with and share the food caught by army ants. They also participate in their own foraging activities. Army ants share their nests with parasites such as beetles, snails, and spiders, and they also share their food with the silverfish.

The silverfish and army ants have a symbiotic relationship, benefiting from leftover food scraps and protection from predators provided by the army ants. As the ants go on raids, silverfish follow them, eating the ants’ “leftovers”. They hunt with army ants, sharing the prey without helping or harming the ants. This form of neutral commensalism occurs when the ants are neither harmed nor killed.

Although silverfish are typically small, wingless insects, their connection goes beyond mere coexistence. Myrmecophilous silverfish live in and amongst army ants to avoid being killed or rejected from the nest. They live in army ant burrows and consume left over food from the ants, avoiding harm to the ants.

The relationship between silverfish and army ants is classified as commensalism, as it involves silverfish sharing the prey without helping or harming the ants. This type of relationship is a form of mutualism, protocooperation, and scavenging.