Wondering what Brood Parasitism is? Click on the link below, to know more…

Now, allow me to introduce you all to this beautiful butterfly from the family of blue butterflies (Lycaenidae), that shows somewhat similar adaptation- The Alcon Blue. Inhabitants of grasslands in several countries like England, France, German, and Greece… these butterflies have evolved a special mechanism in order to increase their survival rate. What strategy could a butterfly possibly develop to thrive in its habitat? Let’s see their lifecycle and find out the answer to this question.

In the months of June-July, the males and females of these species mate and the female lays egg(s) on a plant called the Marsh Gentian. The pink flowers of these plant happen to be the first food source of the newly hatched caterpillar (butterfly larva). This caterpillar, after having completed nearly three moults (see moulting), drops off on the ground. Whether the individual would live and become one like its parents or end up being someone’s breakfast is a matter of chance circumstances! Their rescuers are the ants of a particular kind – The Myrmica ant.

If a Myrmica ant worker comes across this larva, it would be picked up and carried to the ant nest. There, this individual would be taken care of as one of the ants own larvae. Enjoying being fed by the ants, gaining over 100 times its weight, this caterpillar would start to pupate and one fine day, after emerging as a beautiful blue Alcon butterfly adult, this imposter would escape on its six legs, when the ants are at rest. Once out, it’ll find one of the grass blades and dry its wings to finally complete its lifecycle.

You, my dear readers would be wondering as to why would an ant pick a butterfly larva in the first place? Well, as cruel and decisive as it may seem, these caterpillars are excellent at mimicking their host’s (ants) sound, also called as ,’acoustical mimicry’ and in fact, the outer layer of their skin secretes a substance so familiar to the ant’s larvae, known as ‘chemical mimicry’ that they end up picking up the parasite instead of preying on it!

Studies have shown that the caterpillars mimic the sounds of the queen Myrmica ant and the workers instantly fall into the trap (again, not literally!) Not just that…once inside the ant nest, these masters of mimicry produce a low intensity sound similar to the ant larva and thus receive all the pampering that their counterparts would receive otherwise.

Nature works in its own mysterious ways and I love finding out more about such wonders and introducing them to everyone who is keen on reading about them.

How do you feel reading about these tiny smart decisive creatures? You can comment down your thoughts!

A healthy criticism is always welcome, but I equally appreciate your compliments. So do not forget to drop them in, if you enjoyed reading this article! 🙂