Ants Adopt A CATERPILLAR!

Ants Adopt A CATERPILLAR!

From What The If? by Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle Paniccia

March 9, 2026 · 40 min

About this episode

This episode explores the fascinating relationship between caterpillars and ants, highlighting how caterpillars deceive ant colonies to survive.

What the if you got zapped by a shrink ray while walking past the physics department and your only hope of survival was convincing a colony of ants to take you in? Lycaenid butterfly caterpillars have been pulling this con for millions of years, hacking ant colonies with fake chemical IDs and rhythmic vibrational passwords to sneak past the bouncers. Once inside, some get the royal treatment in ant kindergarten while others take a much darker approach to fitting in that you really need to hear to believe. Based on "The Password That Lets Caterpillars Hide in an Ant's Lair" by Rebecca Zambach, published in The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/science/caterpillar-ant-language.html?unlocked_article_code=1.R1A.pFPA.7vXnChlDK6D8&smid=url-share --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

People in this episode

Hosts: Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle Paniccia

Topics covered

  • ants
  • caterpillars
  • symbiosis
  • chemical communication
  • vibrational passwords
  • nature
  • science

Keywords

  • ants
  • caterpillars
  • symbiosis
  • chemical IDs
  • vibrational passwords
  • nature
  • science

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The New York Times, Neon Hemlock

Products: Luminescent Machinations: Queer Tales of Monumental Invention

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