Pupating ants make milk for larvæ

During their pupal stage, between larva and adult, ants are immobile and were previously thought to be pretty much useless to the rest of the colony. Now researchers have discovered that they have a pivotal role, secreting a nutritious fluid that is drunk by adult ants and fed to larvæ. Analogous to mammalian milk, the secretion seems to be essential for young larvæ to grow strong and healthy. The pupæ also receive parental care: if the secretion is not removed, it can hurt them.