However, in order to maintain this interspecies relationship, ants and caterpillars must communicate. It has long been known that this occurs through chemical substances (chemical imitation/mimetism process). But a new study has revealed that communication also occurs through rhythm.
The study, led by the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, shows that baby caterpillars use complex and synchronized rhythmic signals to imitate ants and convince them that they belong to the colony. The findings were published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Chiara De Gregorio, a researcher in the Department of Psychology at the University of Warwick and lead author of the study, said:
“Rhythm is a fundamental part of human life: we dance to music, we keep time, and we immediately recognize when something is out of rhythm. But complex rhythmic organization has often been observed in primates. So it’s exciting for us to discover that ants and caterpillars also depend on carefully synchronized signals to communicate.”
Vibrations propagating through the ground
In the study, the team analyzed the vibroacoustic signals of two ant species and nine species of caterpillars that associate with ants to different levels. These signals; They are small vibrations that spread through plants, soil or the walls of anthills. Researchers examined features such as pulse tempo, synchronization of intervals, and rhythmic regularity.
Observations showed that caterpillars that were more dependent on ants produced signals with highly regular synchronization and complex rhythmic patterns resembling musical rhythms with alternating strong and weak beats. These rhythms were very similar to those used by ants. In contrast, species with weak or no association with ants produced simpler and more irregular rhythms.
According to Francesca Barbero, a researcher at the University of Turin and one of the authors of the study:
“In the dark and crowded environment of the anthill, constant vibration and noise are inevitable. In this environment, a clear rhythm can help signals stand out and be recognized quickly. Getting the rhythm right for the caterpillars can be vital, determining whether the ants provide them with care and protection or ignore them completely.”
double measure
Caterpillars, which were highly dependent on ants, shared two basic rhythmic characteristics with ants:
Isochrony: Establishing a steady rhythm with evenly spaced pulse beats
Double beat: A more complex pattern in which long and short intervals alternate
This combination has only been observed in ants and the caterpillar species most dependent on them. This suggests that the two species have developed a coordinated rhythmic pattern as a result of their close ecological interactions.
De Gregorio draws attention to this point:
“This study shows that not only the message conveyed, but also the way it is conveyed is important. Timing, regularity and temporal structure of signals play critical roles in influencing the behavior of ants.”
Rhythm is an evolutionary communication tool
The findings question the idea that rhythm is unique to humans or large-brained animals.
According to the researcher: “This suggests that rhythm is a pervasive and fundamental feature of biological communication that has been reshaped repeatedly by evolution.”
Finally, the researcher uses the following statement:
“Next time you tap your feet to the music, remember that somewhere underground, caterpillars may be doing something surprisingly similar: They may be making rhythms to survive.”
Source: Chiara De Gregorio et al. “Rhythmic signaling of ants and butterflies with different degrees of myrmecophilia.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (2026).
