How are ants known to inadvertently assist woolly aphid colonies?

Tending the colonies, which can aid in relocation between roots and shoots

Ants often engage in a mutualistic relationship with various aphid species, including woolly aphids, due to the honeydew—the sugary excretion produced by the feeding aphids. In this symbiotic arrangement, ants tend to the aphid colonies, offering protection from predators like lady beetles and lacewings. This tending behavior inadvertently aids the aphids by facilitating their relocation. Ants can move aphid forms, especially younger stages, between different feeding sites, potentially aiding in moving the population between the established root systems and the aerial shoots or twigs. However, while ants assist in local movements, the dispersal mechanism responsible for colonizing entirely new, distant plants remains primarily the winged alate stage.