Green tree ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) are plentiful in tropical forests from India to northern Australia. And, as this short from the science documentary series Deep Look details, their dominance has spawned quite a few imitators. With close-up looks at four of these copycats – one insect and three spiders – the video explores how each has evolved to resemble the ants in appearance, behaviour and even smell. Some leverage the ants’ reputation as fierce fighters to avoid being eaten themselves; others use their disguise to get close enough to make a meal of the ants and their young. While some disguises are more convincing than others, each is good enough to provide an evolutionary advantage that allows these creatures to reap the benefits of the green tree ant’s success.

1 October 2026

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