Lollipops with side effects: A plant's sugary offering betrays caterpillars to predatory ants

Trichomes, hair-like projections on leaves, of wild tobacco contain acyl sugars, which are composed of sucrose, bound to branched chain aliphatic acids. Hatched caterpillars consume these sweet secretions. This has unwanted side effects for the insects: the caterpillars develop a distinctive odor. Scientists discovered that ants recognize the caterpillar's odor to locate the larvae on the plants and carry them back to their nests to feed their young and co-workers.

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