Highlights•Larvae of at least 30 butterfly and moth clades associate with ants.•Lycaenid and
riodinid caterpillars range from mutualists to parasites of ants.•Modifications of a suite of 'ant …

Ant nests and their surrounding territories represent a hoard of trophic resources, as well as
of stable and protected environments for many arthropods involved in commensal …

The caterpillars of many Lepidoptera are neither attacked nor tended by ants but
nevertheless appear to be obligately ant-associated and benefit from the enemy-free space …

Background: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a key role in the adaptive
immune response to pathogens due to its extraordinary polymorphism. However, the spatial …

Host–parasite dynamics involve coevolutionary arms races, which may lead to host
specialization and ensuing diversification. Our general understanding of the evolution of …

Intimate associations between different species drive community composition across
ecosystems. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary drivers of these symbiotic …

Obligate brood-parasitic cheats have fascinated natural historians since ancient times.
Passing on the costs of parental care to others occurs widely in birds, insects and fish, and …

1. This study investigates the ecology of three threatened butterfly species on a 60 km2 site
in Gotland, Southeast Sweden, using mark-recapture methods from 2017 to 2020. 2. Nearly …

Maculinea (= Phengaris) are endangered butterflies that are characterized by a very
complex biological cycle. Maculinea larvae behave as obligate parasites whose survival is …

Taxonomic entities below the species level often pose difficulties for conservation practice,
especially when they are ecologically distinct from the nominal species. Genomic tools …