Looking for camouflaged lycaenid (hairstreak or blue) caterpillars on its host plant leaves or flowers can sometimes be difficult and time consuming. 

One technique that can help is to understand which species of blues or hairstreaks are tended by ants; and then look for congregations of ants on the host plant that might be tending caterpillars.

Ants tend some lycaenid caterpillars because the larvae secrete a sweet substance that the ants can consume without harming the larvae. (Ants also tend aphids; which can be annoying when looking for lycaenid larvae.)  Click on any image below to start slide show. 

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