沒錯(cuò),，毛蟲能夠變成蛾子，但科學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn),，它們竟然還能變成“螞蟻”,。

據(jù)美國《科學(xué)》雜志在線新聞報(bào)道，在偷偷溜進(jìn)大黑蟻的窩中后,，日本高砂燕灰蝶的幼蟲能夠模擬高級成年雄蟻的氣味,，從而使那些工蟻熱心地喂養(yǎng)它們。這一詭計(jì)與杜鵑的把戲非常類似,，后者因?qū)⒙旬a(chǎn)在其他鳥類的窩中,，并讓這些鳥類哺育自己的后代而聞名,。研究人員最近在英國《皇家學(xué)會學(xué)報(bào)B：生物科學(xué)》（Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences）網(wǎng)絡(luò)版上報(bào)告了這一發(fā)現(xiàn)。（生物谷Bioon.com）

生物谷推薦原始出處：

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,，Masaru K. Hojo,，Ryohei Yamaoka

Chemical disguise as particular caste of host ants in the ant inquiline parasite Niphanda fusca (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Masaru K. Hojo1, Ayako Wada-Katsumata2, Toshiharu Akino1, Susumu Yamaguchi3, Mamiko Ozaki4, Ryohei Yamaoka1

1 Division of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
2 Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
3 Wakamiko, Sutama-cho, Hokuto city, Yamanashi 408-0112, Japan
4 Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan

摘要

The exploitation of parental care is common in avian and insect ‘cuckoos’ and these species engage in a coevolutionary arms race. Caterpillars of the lycaenid butterfly Niphanda fusca develop as parasites inside the nests of host ants (Camponotus japonicus) where they grow by feeding on the worker trophallaxis. We hypothesized that N. fusca caterpillars chemically mimic host larvae, or some particular castes of the host ant, so that the caterpillars are accepted and cared for by the host workers. Behaviourally, it was observed that the host workers enthusiastically tended glass dummies coated with the cuticular chemicals of larvae or males and those of N. fusca caterpillars living together. Cuticular chemical analyses revealed that N. fusca caterpillars grown in a host ant nest acquired a colony-specific blend of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). Furthermore, the CHC profiles of the N. fusca caterpillars were particularly close to those of the males rather than those of the host larvae and the others. We suggest that N. fusca caterpillars exploit worker care by matching their cuticular profile to that of the host males, since the males are fed by trophallaxis with workers in their natal nests for approximately ten months.