Myrmecophily (/mɜrmɨˈkɒfɨli/; literally "ant-love") is the term applied to positive interspecies associations between ants and a variety of other organisms such as plants, other arthropods, and fungi. Myrmecophily refers to mutualistic associations with ants, though in its more general use the term may also refer to commensal or even parasitic interactions.The term myrmecophile is used mainly for animals that associate with ants.