Carnivorous Caterpillar Pretends To Be A Queen Ant And Tricks Colony Into Letting Her Inside

Carnivorous Caterpillar Pretends To Be A Queen Ant And Tricks Colony Into Letting Her Inside
Nature is pretty incredible and complex. There are so many layers and ecosystems to the world around us, it can be easy to overlook the world happening around us.
Take insects, for example. I live in a temperate rainforest that's beaming with life and it's hard to avoid insects and wildlife when I step outside, but even people living in urban environments are surrounded by bugs and little critters hiding in cracks and crevices.
width= Photo: YouTube/BBC

It can be easy to carry on life without paying much mind to insects (aside from the insects that bother us, like mosquitoes), but when we stop and really look closely, we might discover some amazing things.
Sir David Attenborough recently went on a mission to share about and celebrate the "wonders of British wildlife" in the BBC series "Wild Isles."
width= Photo: YouTube/BBC

In a clip from the series shared on YouTube, Attenborough narrates close-up footage of ants and caterpillars.
He explained that ants eat caterpillars, but one clever species of carnivorous caterpillar has devised a way to trick the ants into thinking she's their queen ant. Once welcomed into the ant colony's nest, the caterpillar proceeds to feast on all of the larvae!
width= Photo: YouTube/BBC

It's pretty sneaky and bold. Insects may be tiny, but they're so complex and interesting.
You can see more in the video below:
Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

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