Japanese Oakblue Butterfly
(Arhopala japonica)

Found across parts of East and Southeast Asia, the Japanese Oakblue Butterfly is admired for its shimmering iridescent wings that shift between blues and greens depending on the angle of light. But its caterpillar stage is arguably even more interesting than the adult!

Its caterpillar form has a remarkable relationship with ants — it produces secretions the ants find irresistible, essentially mind controlling them to become their very own bodyguards! It can also raise small tentacle-like organs on its body that send the ants into an aggressive frenzy, deploying them like tiny soldiers against any potential threat!

Here is its caterpillar form!