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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Butterflies (Lepidoptera) (8 Galleries) >> Butterfly Larvae and Pupae > Silvery blue butterfly larva (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
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22-JUN-2015 Christine Hanrahan

Silvery blue butterfly larva (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)

Mer Bleue area

I happened to look down and saw this very small caterpillar being tended by ants. It was feeding on Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), a member of the Legume family, and a favourite of silvery blue larvae. This is what the adult looks like: http://www.pbase.com/laroseforest/image/124513471

Just realized I should add something about what is going on with the ants. They are protecting the caterpillar from predators, in return for which they get to feed on a sweet 'honeydew' that the caterpillar exudes. An example of a symbiotic relationship at play.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ200
1/160s f/3.5 at 4.5mm iso160 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time22-Jun-2015 12:37:48
MakePanasonic
ModelDMC-FZ200
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length4.5 mm
Exposure Time1/159 sec
Aperturef/3.5
ISO Equivalent160
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Tom LeRoy22-Jun-2015 19:45
Such interesting information and great details! V
Isabel Cutler22-Jun-2015 19:31
Who's going to win?
globalgadabout22-Jun-2015 19:23
intriguing capture...wonder if this is a symbiotic interaction, or predators and prey..
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