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Elaiosomes: tasty treats for hard-working ants

Ants have a close association with red and white dead nettles (Lamium purpureum and L. album) and carry off the seeds to their nests, where they feed the smooth folded, nutritious attachment (elaiosome) to their developing larvae. The seed itself is not consumed, and is either left in the nest or dispersed a short distance, e.g. to a pile or midden outside the nest. Lamium album, white…