3 Surprising Ways Animals Use Saliva

Saliva, often seen as unappealing, plays crucial roles in various animals. It aids in digestion and disease protection in humans. Red kangaroos use it to cool down by licking their arms, utilizing saliva's high heat capacity. Scorpion flies use saliva as a nuptial gift to attract mates, enhancing reproductive success. In ants, saliva exchange, or trophallaxis, influences larval development and future roles within the colony. These examples highlight saliva's diverse and essential functions in the animal kingdom.

What is trophallaxis and how does it affect the roles of ants in their colony?

What surprising role does saliva play in the development of ant larvae?