@twizzt
TIL!
"Weaver ants are attracted to the sugary secretions produced by caterpillars, which they use as a food source. In return, the caterpillars are protected by the ants, who defend them from predators and parasitoids. This relationship is particularly common among lycaenid butterflies, which have evolved specialized body parts, such as dew patches and nectar glands, to attract ants. Some caterpillars even have thick plates at their heads to protect them from ant aggression..."
@chris_hayes there's one lyceanid that has turned the tables though. It lives inside ant nests and feeds on the ant eggs and larvae. It is armored and well defended so the ants basically let it do its things. After it pupates, as an adult, it is more vulnerable but as a defense it has massive amounts of large scales which gum up any attacking ants jaws giving it time to escape. Imagine, a carnivorous caterpillar.
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