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Deep Look
Citrus Psyllids Bribe Ants With Strings Of Candy Poop
Season 9
Episode 17
Asian citrus psyllids transmit a disease that can ruin your oranges. Even worse, Argentine ants protect them in exchange for the psyllids' delicate ribbons of sugary poop, called honeydew. So, researchers are helping orange growers fight back with invisible lasers, ghastly wasps and more trickery.
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