Nick Volpe
Shining Oak-blue Butterfly caterpillar (Arhopala micale)
A tale of friendship, farming and fascination!
This image may look like a caterpillar is under attack from a group of worker ants, but it is in fact the opposite! What you are witnessing is the mutualistic association called 'myrmecophily'.
The caterpillar of the Shining Oak-blue Butterfly has a special gland that secretes small droplets of 'sugar water' as a lucrative food source for ants. In return for this nutritious free food, a small group of worker Green Tree Ants will guard and protect the caterpillar from any potential predators or parasitic wasps.
Caterpillars are some of the most vulnerable invertebrates and often need to have defence mechanics such as toxins, spines or camouflage. This caterpillar has taken it to the next level!
I have been wanting to see this interaction for over a year and have been constantly looking at trees near creek-lines in monsoon forest. Finally got to witness it this week and there were half a dozen caterpillars on this tree!
Shining Oak-blue Butterfly caterpillar (Arhopala micale)
A tale of friendship, farming and fascination!
This image may look like a caterpillar is under attack from a group of worker ants, but it is in fact the opposite! What you are witnessing is the mutualistic association called 'myrmecophily'.
The caterpillar of the Shining Oak-blue Butterfly has a special gland that secretes small droplets of 'sugar water' as a lucrative food source for ants. In return for this nutritious free food, a small group of worker Green Tree Ants will guard and protect the caterpillar from any potential predators or parasitic wasps.
Caterpillars are some of the most vulnerable invertebrates and often need to have defence mechanics such as toxins, spines or camouflage. This caterpillar has taken it to the next level!
I have been wanting to see this interaction for over a year and have been constantly looking at trees near creek-lines in monsoon forest. Finally got to witness it this week and there were half a dozen caterpillars on this tree!