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Myrmica sabuleti is a species of ant in the genus Myrmica. The species is indigenous to Europe, and most colonies are Gyne. Caterpillars of the large blue butterfly ( Phengaris arion) parasitism prey on this ant. The caterpillar hatches on wild thyme buds and then at the fourth-instar stage tricks the ants into believing it is one of their own . The worker ants then carry the caterpillar to their nest, where it feeds on the ant grubs for 10 months before pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
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