Some species of ants farm aphids, protecting them on the plants where they are feeding. They do this to consume the honeydew the aphids release This is a mutualy beneficial relationship, with these 'dairying ants milking' the aphids by stroking them with their antennae. At Northward Hill Reserve a good example of this can be found on the track opposite the office where both ant and aphid can be seen in action on the thistles.
These are Aphids or Blackfly as they are often called.
These are the Ants that milk them.
Now the story doesn't end there as Ladybirds are voracious eaters of the tiny black flies and will consume them in their hundreds given the chance, but of course the 'farmers' looking after and 'milking their herd' are not all that impressed with this mini beast eating their stock, so what do they do?
They attack it and drive it off as any herdsman would do biting it and in this case spraying it with formic acid, given this sustained attack on several fronts, the Ladybird has no choice but to beat a hasty retreat on all 3 pairs of legs as fast as it could.
Amazingly there's even a reflection of the photographer in the extreme left hand ants' kitinous abdomen.
So farmer, shepherd, ant will they all protect their food supply and use all weapons at their disposal.
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.