Question

use the passage to answer the question.
what was the main purpose of the study?
(1 point)
to determine how the butterflies locate the myrmica ants
to determine where the butterflies lay their eggs
to explain how the myrmica ants leave a chemical trail
to explain when the oregano plants make carvacrol
check answer remaining attempts : 3
\the ant, butterfly, and the oregano plant\
by nsikan akpan
scientists had never observed any direct contact between adult large blues and myrmica ants. the pregnant butterflies dont spot the nests from above, since the flyers lay their eggs during a time of day when the ants are underground. plus the myrmica ants rarely climb the stems of oregano plants or leave a chemical trail that lasts long enough to be sniffed by the butterflies.
however when under duress by pests, such as when ants destroy their roots, plants are known to produce chemicals to ward off invaders. so for this study, barbero and her colleagues grew oregano in enclosed terrariums with myrmica ants, and then collected the chemical scents emitted by the plant.
the researchers found that the plants made twice as much of a chemical agent called carvacrol versus normal plants grown without myrmica ants.

Explanation:

The passage states that scientists were studying how butterflies locate ant nests (since there's no direct contact, and they investigated plant chemicals). The first option is about how butterflies locate Myrmica ants, which aligns with the study's focus on the butterfly - ant - plant interaction to understand butterfly's location of ants. The other options: the second is about egg - laying location (not the main study purpose), the third is about ant chemical trails (the passage says ants don't leave long - lasting trails for butterflies), the fourth is about when oregano makes carvacrol (the study was about the plant's chemical production in relation to ants and butterfly location, not just when it makes the chemical).

Answer:

A. to determine how the butterflies locate the Myrmica ants