Myrmecophily in Lepidopteran Systems

Myrmecophily, the association between ants and butterflies or moths, is particularly diverse within the Lycaenidae, where relationships range from facultative mutualism to obligate social parasitism. Caterpillars in this family deploy a suite of adaptations—chemical, acoustic and behavioural—to manipulate ant hosts. Mutualistic species secrete nutritive rewards and benefit from ant protection, whereas parasitic lineages infiltrate nests, gain brood care and, in some cases, consume ant brood. These interactions are mediated by cuticular hydrocarbons that mimic ant colony odours, specialised organs that produce vibrational signals, and trophallactic exchanges that sustain larval development. Globally, the diversity of myrmecophilous Lepidoptera reflects regional ant fauna richness, with hotspots in the Oriental and Australasian regions. Understanding these associations illuminates co-evolutionary processes and underpins conservation strategies for endangered butterflies whose survival depends on intact ant–plant–butterfly networks.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have advanced our knowledge of host specificity and chemical deception in obligate social parasites. Investigations into a model species revealed that local populations exploit different Myrmica ant species, driven by subtle variation in larval cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. At some sites, only one ant species supports development, while at others multiple hosts are exploited. These findings demonstrate how parasites fine-tune their chemical signatures to match local ant communities, and highlight the need to tailor conservation measures to preserve both keystone ant species and regionally adapted butterfly populations.

Myrmecophily in Lepidopteran Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in myrmecophily in lepidopteran systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Myrmecophily: A biological association between ants and other organisms, encompassing mutualism, commensalism and parasitism.

Obligate social parasite: An organism that requires a specific ant host to complete its lifecycle, often by exploiting brood care.

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs): Surface lipids on insects that convey colony identity and mediate recognition by ants.

Trophallaxis: The process by which ants and associated organisms exchange nutrient-rich fluids mouth-to-mouth.

References

1. The ant associates of Lycaenidae butterfly caterpillars – revisited. Nota Lepidopterologica (2021).
2. Variation in Butterfly Larval Acoustics as a Strategy to Infiltrate and Exploit Host Ant Colony Resources. PLOS ONE (2014).
3. Plant defences against ants provide a pathway to social parasitism in butterflies. Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2015).
4. Host specificity pattern and chemical deception in a social parasite of ants. Scientific Reports (2019).
5. Changes in host ant communities of Alcon Blue butterflies in abandoned mountain hay meadows. Insect Conservation and Diversity (2019).