Oviposition by the Mountain Alcon Blue butterfly increases with host plant flower number and host ant abundance

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Carleial ◽  
Noëlie Maurel ◽  
Mark van Kleunen ◽  
Marc Stift
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Flower Number ◽  
Alcon Blue ◽  
Plant Flower ◽  
Blue Butterfly

Host plant-mediated effects of climate change on the occurrence of the Alcon blue butterfly (Phengaris alcon)

2013 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 329-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouk Cormont ◽  
G.W. Wieger Wamelink ◽  
René Jochem ◽  
Michiel F. WallisDeVries ◽  
Ruut M.A. Wegman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Alcon Blue ◽  
Blue Butterfly

scholarly journals Host Ant Change of a Socially Parasitic Butterfly (Phengaris alcon) through Host Nest Take-Over

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 556
Author(s):  
András Tartally ◽  
Anna Ágnes Somogyi ◽  
Tamás Révész ◽  
David R. Nash
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Larval Stage ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Host Nest ◽  
Host Switch ◽  
Ecological Plasticity ◽  
Alcon Blue ◽  
Blue Butterfly

The socially parasitic Alcon blue butterfly (Phengaris alcon) starts its larval stage by feeding on the seeds of gentians, after which it completes development in the nests of suitable Myrmica ant species. The host plant and host ant species can differ at the population level within a region, and local adaptation is common, but some host switches are observed. It has been suggested that one mechanism of change is through the re-adoption of caterpillars by different ant species, either through occupation of abandoned nests or take-over of established nests by competitively superior colonies. To test this question in the lab we introduced relatively strong colonies (50 workers) of alien Myrmica species to the arenas of weaker colonies (two caterpillars with six workers), and to orphaned caterpillars (two caterpillars without ants). We used caterpillars from a xerophylic population of P. alcon, and both local hosts, M. sabuleti and M. scabrinodis, testing the possibility of host switch between these two host ant species during larval development. Most of the caterpillars were successfully readopted by alien ants, and survived well. Our results suggest higher ecological plasticity in host ant usage of this butterfly than generally thought.

scholarly journals Some ecological factors influencing the breeding success of the Brenton Blue butterfly, Orachrysops niobe (Trimen) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Koedoe ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Edge
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Breeding Success ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Plant Abundance ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Nectar Sources ◽  
Management Techniques ◽  
Blue Butterfly

The Brenton Blue butterfly, Orachrysops niobe (Trimen, 1862) (Lepidoptera:Lycaenidae), is endemic to the southern Cape and is currently listed as Endangered. This study looks at some of the key ecological factors influencing the breeding success of the species—host plant abundance and condition, nectar sources, climate/ microclimate, and vegetation management techniques. The adult butterfly population was monitored over an entire breeding season; host plants were identified and individually monitored; and egg counts were done. This enabled the effects of a number of different management techniques to be evaluated (burning, cutting, physical removal of invasive elements, and combinations thereof). A fivefold increase in the population of O. niobe was observed over the breeding season. This increase was positively correlated to a similar increase in host plant abundance in the areas where cutting and physical removal of invasive elements was practiced. Burning, by contrast, appeared to have a negative impact on host plant and butterfly abundance over the same period. Impacts of other factors such as climate, nectar sources and the natural strength of the second brood are discussed. A hypothesis, of megaherbivore activity as the principal historical disturbance mechanism promoting locally favourable conditions for O. niobe to establish and maintain colonies, is proposed. Recommendations for reserve management and future research are made.

scholarly journals Biology of Gram Blue Butterfly, Euchrysops Cnejus (Fabricius) (Lycaenidae: Lapidoptera) and its Relationship with the Phenology of Host-plant (Vigna Unguiculata: Fabaceae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajeda Akand ◽  
MA Bashar ◽  
Humayun Reza Khan
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Laboratory Condition ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Vigna Unguiculata ◽  
Developmental Period ◽  
Oviposition Behaviour ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Pupal Period ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Blue Butterfly

The biology of the gram blue butterfly, Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) (Lycaenidae: Lapidoptera) and its relationship with the phenology of host plant cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. (Fabaceae) were studied. Eggs were reared under the laboratory conditions at 28 ± 20C and 74 ± 3% RH. The incubation period of the eggs found to be 2.33 ± 0.51 days, larval developmental period 14.65 ± 0.51 days, pre-pupal period 0.30 ± 0.04 day and pupal period 5.66 ± 0.51 days. The species took 22.94 ± 0.55 days for development from egg to adult under the laboratory condition. The length of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae was 3.66 ± 0.40, 6.16 ± 0.51, 12.16 ± 0.51 and 15.33 ± 0.40 mm, respectively. The pre-pupal length was 9.16 ± 0.61 mm and the pupal length was 9.08 ± 0.37 mm. The host-plant occurs in the field from February to July. The butterfly appeared in March. The coincidence of the gram blue butterfly to its host-plant occurred between April and early July. The oviposition behaviour, incubation and immature stages were found to be profoundly related with host plant-phenological phases.Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 39, No. 2, 241-248, 2015

Oviposition site selection of the Alcon blue butterfly at the northern range margin

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1059-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margus Vilbas ◽  
Toomas Esperk ◽  
Triin Edovald ◽  
Ants Kaasik ◽  
Tiit Teder
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Oviposition Site ◽  
Oviposition Site Selection ◽  
Range Margin ◽  
Alcon Blue ◽  
Blue Butterfly ◽  
Selection Of

Host ant use of the Alcon blue butterfly at the northern range margin

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 879-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margus Vilbas ◽  
Toomas Esperk ◽  
Tiit Teder
Keyword(s):  
Range Margin ◽  
Alcon Blue ◽  
Blue Butterfly

scholarly journals A Unique Population in a Unique Area: The Alcon Blue Butterfly and Its Specific Parasitoid in the Białowieża Forest

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 687
Author(s):  
Izabela Dziekańska ◽  
Piotr Nowicki ◽  
Ewa Pirożnikow ◽  
Marcin Sielezniew
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Białowieża Forest ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Ne Poland ◽  
Myrmica Ants ◽  
Alcon Blue ◽  
Myrmica Scabrinodis ◽  
Blue Butterfly

Caterpillars of the Alcon blue butterfly Phengaris alcon are initially endophytic and feed inside the flowerheads of Gentiana plants, but complete their development as social parasites in the nests of Myrmica ants, where they are fed by workers. Its specific and complicated ecological requirements make P. alcon a very local, threatened species, sensitive to environmental changes. We investigated an isolated and previously unknown population in an area of high nature value—the Białowieża Forest (NE Poland). Using the mark–release–recapture method we estimated the seasonal number of adults at 1460 individuals, and their density (850/ha) was the highest among all populations using G. pneumonanthe studied so far. The site is also unique due to the presence of the specific parasitoid Ichneumon cf. eumerus, and parasitoids are considered the ultimate indicators of the biodiversity of Phengaris systems. Since 75.5% of P. alcon pupae were infested we could estimate the seasonal population of adult wasps at about 4500 individuals. The high abundance of both P. alcon and its parasitoid may be explained by favorable habitat characteristics, i.e., the strong presence of host plants and the high density of nests of Myrmica scabrinodis, which is the only local host ant of the butterfly.

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