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  "path": "/biology/caterpillars-mimic-queen-ant-status-colony-rhythm/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-14T07:02:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://refractor.io",
  "tags": [
    "Continue Reading",
    "Biology",
    "Science",
    "Insect",
    "Ants",
    "Butterfly",
    "Caterpillar"
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  "textContent": "Baby caterpillars have figured out how to get themselves the royal treatment in certain ant colonies – getting carried around like precious cargo, fed on demand, guarded and being rescued from danger. But why would ants give this celebrity status to a caterpillar? The secret lies in perfect mimicry: the caterpillar copies not just the queen ant’s chemical scent, but the exact rhythm of her vibrations.\n\nContinue Reading\n\n**Category:** Biology, Science\n\n**Tags:** Insect, Ants, Butterfly, Caterpillar",
  "title": "Cheeky caterpillars trick ants into treating them as queens"
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