The setae of parasitic Liphyra brassolis butterfly larvae form a flexible armour for resisting attack by their ant hosts (Lycaenidae: Lepidoptera)

Abstract

Caterpillars of the lycaenid butterfly, Liphyra brassolis, live inside the nests of arboreal weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina, and eat their brood. Observations of mature larvae suggest that they are impervious to relentless ant molestation, yet they lack sclerotized cuticular plates. We document a novel form of integumental defence that imparts protection from ant attack whilst maintaining the flexibility necessary to walk with a hydraulic skeleton. Analysis of the trunk integument and cuticular structures of early and late instars of L. brassolis using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and histology revealed three new setae types (disc, clavate, and lanceolate), as well as three new cuticular structures (pored sockets, cuticular pores, and cuticular domes). The unique cuticle is covered with lanceolate setae, which act as endocuticular struts, and overlapping scale-like sockets, which form a hard, flexible integument. The imperfect armour of the early-instar larvae suggests that abundant, putatively secretory pores are likely to be homologous to pore cupola organs (PCOs) found in other lycaenid larvae and thus may exude semiochemicals to allay ant aggression. The importance of these pores presumably wanes as structural (setal) cuticular defenses are reinforced in later instars, when adult ants have been observed attacking caterpillars to no avail. The caterpillar's antennae are unusual and seem to be involved in manipulating ant larvae into the caterpillar's mouth. Behavioural observations indicate that the dexterity of these structures is associated with eating ants (myrmecophagy).