Sprays FORMIC ACID as primary attack — temporarily blinds and ultimately kills target prey by acid penetration into eyes and soft tissue. Same chemical as European red wood ants but used aggressively.
Bullet ant venom contains poneratoxin, a peptide that paralyzes insect prey and is being studied as a template for next-generation insecticides.
Glasswing caterpillars eat toxic Cestrum plants and store the alkaloids — making the adults distasteful to predators.
When threatened, ladybugs 'reflex bleed' — releasing yellow alkaloid-laced hemolymph from their leg joints.
Monarch caterpillars accumulate cardiac glycosides from milkweed — making the adults toxic to most predators.
When threatened, giant millipedes release a defensive secretion containing benzoquinones and hydrogen cyanide.
Caterpillars eat toxic Omphalea plants and store the alkaloids — the brilliant adult colors warn predators 'I'm poisonous.'
