What is the symbiotic relationship between caterpillars and ants?
What is the symbiotic relationship between caterpillars and ants?
The ants (Ectatomma tuberculatum) have a symbiotic relationship, known as myrmecophily, with the caterpillars. The caterpillars have evolved a special structure called the “dorsal nectary organ” which produces sugars and amino acids for the ants.
Are ants bad for caterpillars?
Predators such as spiders and fire ants kill and eat monarch eggs and caterpillars. Some birds and wasps feed on adult butterflies.
What do ants do to caterpillars?
A Special Relationship The caterpillars of these butterflies develop special glands that secrete a nectar-like substance to attract ants. The ants swarm all over the caterpillars, drinking the secretion. The ants “milk” secretions from the caterpillars by tickling special glands on the caterpillars with their antennas.
What is the relationship between ants and butterflies?
Lycaenid butterflies and ants are representative examples of mutualism, in which different species benefit from the activities of the other.
What type of relationship is shown by the ants and the ants and the caterpillar?
In many cases, this ant-caterpillar relationship is an overall mutualism—caterpillar survival is usually much greater when the ants are around to protect them, and the caterpillar’s sugary secretion tends to be both nutritious and delicious.
What benefit do larvae get from association with ants?
Most of these associ- ations are mutualistic. The butterfly larvae offer nutritious secretions to ants, and in return they are exempt from ant attacks and are even protected by ants against other predators and parasitoids (Pierce, 1989).
Do black ants eat monarch caterpillars?
In our northern climate, we have several ant species in our garden and I’m sure they eat some monarch eggs and caterpillars. If your garden pests are innocent until proven guilty, a healthy ecosystem should develop that can support both monarchs and their predators.
How do you protect caterpillars from predators?
Step 1: Why?
- The netting protects the caterpillars from predators by walling them out.
- The netting and tomato cage limit plant movement and minimize the chances that wind and weather will knock your caterpillars off.
What do the predatory ants want with the caterpillar?
For the most part, these sugary secretions, which ants drink readily, keeps the ants interested in tending and protecting the caterpillars. Ants can sometimes be seen stroking the caterpillars with their antennae to encourage them to produce these secretions, and the caterpillars often comply.
What is the relationship between Butterfly and caterpillar?
The caterpillar is a butterfly larva. Caterpillars eat quite a lot and grow quickly. When the caterpillar is finished growing, it forms itself into a pupa, also called a chrysalis. Once inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar will undergo a transformation called metamorphosis, and a beautiful butterfly will emerge.
What is an ant symbiotic relationship?
aphids
Ants and aphids have a symbiotic relationship. Both species of the insects benefit from being together on the stems of those wildflowers. The ants provide protection from any predators that might go after the aphids. The aphids, in return, provide food for the ants.
Are ants a threat to lycaenids?
A small number of Australian lycaenids live as parasites within ant nests where they feed on the immature brood of their host ant. Introduced pest ants are a direct threat to lycaenid butterflies because they compete with or destroy the indigenous ants upon which these butterflies depend.
How do lycaenids overcome predation?
Ants are normally predators of butterfly larvae (caterpillars), however lycaenids have evolved a range of mechanisms to overcome predation. These mechanisms either deter the ants, or attract them by the secretion of compounds that are so attractive to ants that they will protect the larvae instead.
What does lycaenid larva look like?
Lycaenid larvae are relatively small compared with many caterpillars. They often hold their heads underneath their bodies, which are usually flattened and may be covered with small hairs. The pupa is the non-feeding stage, in which the larval organs reorganize and transform into the adult organs.
Why are lycaenids endangered?
Their populations tend to be localised, reflecting the patchy co-occurrence of the larval plant food and attendant ants. These factors make many lycaenids very vulnerable to habitat disturbance, and many species are threatened with extinction.
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