Ant colonies do not only accommodate myrmecophiles, but sometimes also other ant species. Associations between co-housing are typically parasitic in nature. A few cases, however, are known of beneficial associations between social insects. We studied such a rare association between two Afrotropical species that share the same nest even though they lack matching colony odors. The large ant Platythyrea conradti benefited from the presence of Strumigenys maynei as this tiny, but highly aggressive, ant was much more efficient in attacking intranidal and extranidal enemies. S. maynei in turn took advantage of P. conradti as this ant constructs a unique nest which attracts suitable prey (PDF).