High invasive ant activity drives predation of a native butterfly larva

Abstract

Yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) threaten invertebrates on many tropical islands, but little work has been done in continental ecosystems. We found 4.4-16.0 times more cruiser butterfly caterpillars were attacked in Australian rain forest sites with A. gracilipes than in native ant sites, and extrafloral nectar had little influence.