Question

the ant, butterfly, and the oregano plant
by nsikan akpan
large blue caterpillars only gain 1 to 2 percent of their body weight by nibbling on the oregano leaves during the early stages of life. the overwhelming majority of their sustenance - 98 to 99 percent - comes from eating ants. but if butterfly larvae tried to trick the wrong patses - non - myrmica ants - theyd likely get eaten. guessing right is a matter of life and death, and especially important given the large blue butterfly has relatively few eggs and is endangered.
from an evolutionary perspective, thomas and barbero say that the large blue butterflies gained an advantage by using scents to glean which oregano plants are fighting off myrmica invasions. at the same time, the plant only loses a small, non - lethal amount of its leaves to the caterpillar. and though myrmica might lose individual battles to the butterflies, the ants are invasive enough that their total populations arent at risk of being harmed by the butterflies.
connection: large blue caterpillars do not pose a significant threat to the oregano plant.
which piece of evidence from the passage supports this connection? select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
\and though myrmica might lose individual battles to the butterflies, the ants are invasive enough that their total populations arent at risk of being harmed by the butterflies.\
\but if butterfly larvae tried to trick the wrong patses - non - myrmica ants - theyd likely get eaten.\
\from an evolutionary perspective, thomas and barbero say that the large blue butterflies gained an advantage by using scents to glean which oregano plants are fighting off myrmica invasions.\
\the overwhelming majority of their sustenance - 98 to 99 percent - comes from eating ants.\
\large blue caterpillars only gain 1 to 2 percent of their body weight by nibbling on the oregano leaves during the early stages of life.\

Explanation:

The passage discusses the relationship between large blue caterpillars, ants, and oregano plants. The key is to find evidence that large blue caterpillars do not pose a significant threat to oregano plants.

• The statement "From an evolutionary perspective, Thomas and Barbero say that the Large Blue butterflies gained an advantage by using scents to glean which oregano plants are fighting off Myrmica invasions." shows that the butterflies (and by extension their caterpillars) are interacting with the plants in a way that doesn't overly harm the plant population. The plants are using scents to signal (to the butterflies) about ant invasions, which implies a more complex ecological interaction rather than a one - sided destructive relationship.
• The statement "And though Myrmica might lose individual battles to the butterflies, the ants are invasive enough that their total populations aren't at risk of being harmed by the butterflies." indicates that the interaction between the ants and butterflies is more about ecological balance. Since the ants (which are related to the plant - butterfly - ant system) aren't at risk, it further supports that the large blue caterpillars (which turn into butterflies) don't pose a significant threat to the oregano plant (as the plant - ant - butterfly system seems to be in a state of balance rather than a destructive caterpillar - plant relationship).

Answer:

"From an evolutionary perspective, Thomas and Barbero say that the Large Blue butterflies gained an advantage by using scents to glean which oregano plants are fighting off Myrmica invasions." and "And though Myrmica might lose individual battles to the butterflies, the ants are invasive enough that their total populations aren't at risk of being harmed by the butterflies."