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As the ants start to attack, the larva tenses its muscles and expels a drop of bright red fluid known as hemolymph.

Called hemolymph, the substance is chock-full of carminic acid, a toxic chemical that grants the liquid a bloodlike hue and prompts the ants to abandon their assault.

The hemolymph ejected by C. montrouzieri larvae when they’re under attack—a behavior known as reflex bleeding—is usually yellow in color.

And the hemolymph, the researchers found, proved to be an effective defense against hungry ants.

This membrane acts as a filter between the brain and hemolymph, blocking potentially damaging molecules from reaching the central nervous system.