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?