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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.

What does “Alcon blue larvae are treated like royalty” mean?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

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

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