The Moth That Drinks Tears From Sleeping Birds
In the forests of Madagascar, one moth feeds on something stranger than nectar.
large blue butterfly · caterpillar · ants · ant nest · social parasite · insect mimicry
The large blue butterfly starts life as a caterpillar on wild thyme. It drops to the ground and fools red ants into carrying it into their nest. The ants raise it alongside their own young, and it eats those young for months. Then it has to escape as a butterfly before the ants turn on it.
Don’t try anything shown in this video.
Curious about something in “This Caterpillar Tricks Ants Into Carrying It Home”? Our AI-powered helper answers using only this page’s write-up and sources.
AI answers can be wrong; check the sources. Not medical advice.
Our illustrations simplify anatomy and scale. Educational content only; not medical advice.
Watch this on TikTokIn the forests of Madagascar, one moth feeds on something stranger than nectar.
When a giant hornet scout finds a Japanese honeybee nest, hundreds of bees pile onto it and form a tight ball.
Bolas spiders don't build a normal web.