76 
The Queensland Naturalist August 1947 
In some cases one species of larva is associated with 
one species of ant only — as in the present case — while in 
other species the larvae may be found associated with 
two or more species of ; nr. Needless to say you will not 
find two distinct species of ant attending one individual 
larva at the same time, as ants are not good mixers. 
The reason for t lie ant’s conduct in associating 
(usually termed attending or tending) with these larvae 
is that the larvae of many species of Lyeaenids possess 
glands in the posterior segments which produce a liquid 
(probably sweet) which is much prized by the ants. 
It is on account of this liquid secretion that the 
ants are so solicitous for the welfare of the larvae and 
pupae. In many eases the ants just associate with the 
larvae wherever they ; re, but in others the ants go 
to a great deal of trouble and even build shelters and 
nests in which the larvae can hide during the day. 
Then at night the ants accompany them when they go out 
to feed and no doubt guide them back to the shelter oi- 
liest again. 
There are in Australia several species of these 
Lycaenid butterflies, which actually live as larvae in the 
ants' nest and are to be found amongst the ant larvae and 
pupae. There has been some doubt as to whether these 
larvae actually eat the ant larvae and pupae. From my 
own observations 1 can say that in one species at any rate 
they do. 
I should like to draw the attention of any members 
— particularly country members — who are interested in 
the Australian butterflies, to a problem which has baffled 
both Dr. Waterhouse rnd myself for something like 
eighteen years. 
There are many cases of so-called mimicry of one 
species of insect by another, but these seem for the most 
part to be easily solved by a specialist when he has both 
species before him. The case in which 1 am interested is 
of two of our Australian Lycaenid butterflies. They both 
belong to the same genus (Ialmemts) . The larvae and 
pupae are both distinctive and anyone with any know- 
ledge of the subject would have no difficulty in separat- 
ing 1 mi. Each species is associated with an entirely 
fUff - *• sneews of apt — not only are the ants of different 
species but they belong to different genera also — and in 
my experience each of these butterflies is found with its 
own ant and with no other. All these distinctions in the 
