Catherine Tylan News Today

A team of researchers from Penn State University have determined that eating fire ants could help lizards survive a fire ant attack.

Chowing down on fire ants might bolster lizard immune systems for attacks in the future, "somewhat like a vaccine," researchers say.

Research suggests lizards gain immunity against fire ant venom by eating them, which could also be possible for humans.

A new study has found that lizards that eat fire ants – a venomous, invasive pest found in many parts of the world – could gain a measure of protection against their stinging bites.

Eating fire ants might prepare a lizard’s immune system to be stung by the ants, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State. The study comprehensively assessed how the immune system responds to lizards eating and being stung by these ants and might help researchers understand how other native species respond and adapt to the invasive insects.