Scientists discover "cleaner ants" that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

NYT story earlier on this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47754440

this is no surprise to anyone who has read dougal dixon's 'man after man'

This is very cool, and quite surprising. Cleaner fish are thought to be among the most intelligent fish because of the complexity and danger of their feeding strategy: it takes careful planning and quick thinking. But they aren't tied to any particular species of host or general tactic; naively I imagine cleaner fish are more versatile and adaptable than cone ants.

It would be interesting to learn if this occurs with other species of ants. I suppose until now nobody thought to look.

why haven't any animals adapted to this role for humans!

[dead]