Chemical Strategies Used By Butterflies To Deceive Ants

Oakblue butterflies can be a bit mischievous. They actually use chemical strategies to deceive ants and even avoid attack.

New findings published in the journal PLOS ONE reveal how larvae or Oakblue butterflies survive and develop on specific plant Macaranga or ant-plant species without being attacked by ants that actually live and grow on the plant.

Researchers hypothesized that this is due to the butterfly larvae that chemically mimic or camoflage themselves by the plant-ants on the host plant that are accepted via other plant-ant species living on the plants, which are not typical to the host species.

The study authors collected butterfly larvae via three Arhopala species in Malaysia to get a better understanding of the process. Then they analyzed the plant-ant species' behavioral and chemical responses to the experimental introduction of butterfly larvae, including larval dummies that were treated with cuticular hydrocarbon extract via the leaves of Macaranga species. Cuticular hydrocarbons are chemicals that play an important role in insect communication.

Researchers found that the plant-ants responded to the butterfly larvae in a varied way depending on the the type of butterfly species involved. However, researchers also found that ,"A. dajagaka matched well the host plant-ants, A. amphimuta did not match, and unexpectedly, A. zylda lacked hydrocarbons," according to a news release.

Furthermore, the larvae and dummies that were coated with cuticular chemicals of A. dajagaka were well attended by host and non-host plant-ants, A. amphimuta were often attacked by non-host plant-ants, and A. zylda were ignored by all ants.

Researchers suggest that certain variations exist in chemical strategies via gossamer-winged butterflies that allow them to avoid ant attacks and to be accepted via the plant-ant colonies, according to the study.