10 Questions
What behavior does the caterpillar exhibit to signal its importance over the ant larvae?
Making queen-like noises
How does the caterpillar manipulate the ants that guard them?
By producing sugary secretions
What happens to parasitic butterflies when they are targeted by parasitoid wasps?
They are consumed alive by the wasp larvae.
How do small environmental changes affect the populations of parasitic butterflies?
They inhibit their movement and make them more protective.
What unique transformation does the caterpillar undergo inside its chrysalis?
It forms queen-like acoustic vibrations.
What risky operation does the caterpillar embark on after living within a flower bud for two weeks?
Infiltrating a fortress undercover
How does the caterpillar manage to enter the ant colony?
By secreting a thread of silk and descending to the ground
What is the worker ant's role in the infiltration of the caterpillar into the colony?
To inspect the caterpillar's cuticle with sensitive antennae
What could have happened to the caterpillar if his mimicry didn't work?
He would have been left for dead or taken as food
What purpose do the sugary secretions produced by the caterpillar serve in the ant colony?
To feed the worker ants
Explore the intricate and fascinating life cycle of the Alcon blue butterfly, a unique parasite with highly unusual offspring. Learn about how the tiny caterpillar hatches, lives within a flower bud, and embarks on a high-risk operation to infiltrate a fortress undercover.
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