page_title: Niphanda fusca
section_title: Larvae
hierarchical_section_title: Niphanda fusca / Life cycle / Larvae
caption_attribution_description: English: Niphanda fusca(female)…Shizuoka.pref JPN July 2004 日本語: クロシジミ♀静岡県2004年7月撮影
context_page_description: Niphanda fusca is a parasitic butterfly primarily found in East Asian countries such as Japan and Korea. It is a "cuckoo-type" parasite of the ant Camponotus japonicus. It utilizes chemical mimicry to trick the host worker ants into adopting it while it is a third-instar caterpillar. From there, it is fed mouth-to-mouth by the worker ants as though it were one of their own young.
  The butterflies of this species differ in color between the male and the female. The male has more of a purple tint with a gray underwing.
  N. fusca is currently an endangered butterfly, with an alarming and rapid decrease in numbers. Many locations that have previously recorded sightings have now become areas where the butterfly is extinct. These changes, which have come about mostly in the past 40 years, have resulted from habitat changes moving away from preferred early stage succession ecosystems, as well as habitat changes due to urban development.
context_section_description: Once the caterpillars hatch, they feed on the honeydew produced by the aphids until they are second- or third-instar larva. These aphids are tended to by the host ant, C. japonicus, thus allowing the caterpillars to be near the ants they will soon parasitize.
  As the caterpillars become third-instar larva, they will develop the exocrine glands that are essential in producing the chemicals that aid in parasitizing C. japonicus. These organs include tentacle organs and a dorsal nectary organ (DNO). Third-instar caterpillars are most likely to be adopted by host C. japonicus workers, where they are then fed and raised by the host ants until they are ready for pupation. Adoption typically occurs in the summer.
caption: Female
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