Would you raise the baby that ate your siblings? - Francesca Barbero
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TEDEd Animation
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You might not guess it, but Alcon blue butterflies are just one of over 200 parasitic butterfly species, all of which target ants. And their offspring live highly unusual lives, tricking their way into ant colonies using mimicry. So, how do these butterflies do it— and why? Francesa Barbero explores the strategies caterpillars use to survive among ants on their journey to become butterflies.
Describe the "adaptations" employed by Alcon blue to deceive its host into being adopted, cared for, and fed in the ant nest.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Francesca Barbero
- Director Jagriti Khirwar, Raghav Arumugam
- Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
- Animator Raghav Arumugam
- Art Director Jagriti Khirwar
- Music Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
- Sound Designer Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Sazia Afrin
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Cella Wright
- Fact-Checker Charles Wallace
