Old, obscure question.

[Steve Law]

In article <19990405220736.21650.00002149 at ng-fa1.aol.com>,
dracolich5 at aol.com (Dracolich5) wrote:

>    Forgive me if I don't sound very technical, but this question is based on a
> show I saw years ago.  I heard of a type of butterfly larva in Australia that
> enters ant hives and eats the developing grubs.  This caterpillar, if I
> remember, was an orange color, and shapped like a plate with the edges curled
> up.  Does anyone know what the name of this butterfly is?  Is there a good
> webpage with an image of the adult phase?  Thank you for listening.
> 
> K. Szoke

 I'm quite certain the butterfly you are referring to is indeed Liphyra
brassolis (the "Moth Butterfly"). I'm pretty sure I saw it on one of David
Attenborough's shows. It's called the Moth Butterfly as superficially it
has a strong resemblance to a moth, especially when it emerges from the
ant nest. At this time it's wings + abdomen are covered in woolly scales
which prevent the ants from killing it. These scales are lost shortly
afterwards. Liphyra brassolis is also the largest Australian Lycaenid.