Adoption If the caterpillar is discovered by the right sort of ant it will be adopted into the ant nest.

If the caterpillar is discovered by a red ant (an ant in the genus Myrmica), then it will go through a process known as adoption. If any other type of ant discovers the caterpillar, however, it will be treated like any other caterpillar, which usually means being eaten. During the adoption procedure, a Myrmica ant will touch the caterpillar all over with her antennae. During this time the caterpillar may secrete a droplet of a sweet secretion from a special gland on its back, which the ant drinks. After a while the caterpillar will flatten the rear or middle of its body, and the ant will pick the caterpillar up and carry it away. The ant will carry the caterpillar back to the ant nest and place it among the ant larvae.