THE LARGE BLUE 
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down in the nest, where the ant larvae in their last stage are 
tended by the workers, and generally remains in its chosen 
spot and often surrounded by its hosts. 
In the spring, it awakens from its long winter’s sleep, and 
starts feeding again, remaining where it has slept, without 
shifting from the spot. Unlike its hosts, who enjoy the sun’s 
warmth and regularly bring their larger larvae and pupae 
up close to the surface for the warmth, M. avion never does so, 
but remains in the cool and darkness of the depths of the nest 
with the smaller ant larvae. It continues feeding on the ant 
larvae until early June, when it arrives at full growth, without 
Ant carrying young caterpillar of the Large Blue to its nest. 
Drawn from Life (magnified). 
again moulting since the previous August, a very remarkable 
fact. When ready to pupate, it does not, as a rule, leave 
the spot where it has been living. In some cavity or chamber 
it attaches itself to the roof by the anal claspers to a pad of 
silk, and gradually changes colour from an ochreous hue to a 
dull, dead white. The transformation to a pupa takes about 
a week. At first the pupa remains hanging at an angle of 
45 degrees, owing to the exertion of freeing itself of the larval 
skin, which pitches it slightly forward. In a few days it 
