A Formica francoeuri field ant worker tending to a Lycaena xanthoides larva. The larva produces secretions attractive to ants, and in turn the ants protect the larva from predators and parasites. San Diego Co., California, USA

Formica francoeuriformicinaeformicidaeinsectsinsectantsantbiologyecologymutualismmutualismsspecies interactionsevolutionlycaenidaecaterpillarslepidopteralycaenatendingfield ants