Large Blue Butterfly Iron-on Patch

This butterfly is admired for its beauty, but there's more here than first meets the eye. Eggs are laid on the flowers of host plants like wild thyme, where a caterpillar can blend in as it feasts and grows. But upon reaching its fourth instar, something strange happens.

The caterpillar drops from its host plant and seeks out a red ant (Myrmica sabuleti). Using visual and scent cues, it mimics an ant larva. The ant rushes the caterpillar back to her nest, where it proceeds to gobble up its "siblings" as the worker ants groom and care for it. After a long pupation within the brood chamber, the adult butterfly hurries out of the ant nest before its wings expand. It then lives only a week or so to mate and propagate the species.

This embroidered patch features the brilliant blue colors of the butterfly's dorsal view. It can be ironed and/or sewn onto your favorite bag or garment in need of a burst of color.