Moroccan fly maggot uses fake face on its butt to infiltrate termite colony

A photograph of the fly larva with a fake termite face to infiltrate termite mounds. .

Mountain fly maggots have evolved fake faces on their butts as a cunning disguise to infiltrate termite colonies, a new study has found.

Researchers spotted the fake faces, which resemble termite heads, on the rear of a previously unknown blow fly larva living in the mountains of Morocco. These faces are part of an extreme mimicking strategy that trick harvester termites (Anacanthotermes ochraceus) into thinking the fly larvae are part of their colony.