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Biology

Chemical Mimicry and Exploitation by Brood Parasitic Butterflies

Quick fact

Large blue butterflies (Phengaris arion) fool ants by chemically mimicking the colony's recognition odor. Their caterpillars produce cuticular hydrocarbons that match the ant species, causing worker ants to carry them into the nest and feed them like ant larvae.

Why this is interesting

What if a caterpillar could convince an entire ant colony to raise it as one of their own—by speaking their secret chemical language?