Behavioural evidence for a putative oviposition-deterring pheromone in the butterfly, Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Larvae of the endangered Scarce Large Blue butterfly, Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius, are initially endophytic, feeding upon developing seeds of Sanguisorba officinalis, but complete their development as social parasites preying on the brood of Myrmica ants. Females show very specific preferences, laying eggs exclusively in young flower heads of the food plant. In the present contribution we report the results of a detailed study of female behaviour at three sites differing in size and abundance of S. officinalis. Tracked individuals switched between feeding on nectar (nectaring), flight and oviposition. They fed exclusively on flowers of reddish, pink or violet colouration, favouring Viccia cracca and S. officinalis. However, females spent about one fifth of the time they were active ovipositing and laid about 20 eggs per hour. Oviposition visits to flower heads were highly stereotyped and followed a specific ritual. Examination of accepted, rejected and randomly sampled flower heads showed that females avoided those containing conspecific eggs and at a site where this was difficult due to a shortage of suitable flower heads, they tended to distribute their eggs evenly among the available flower heads. Our results indirectly indicate the existence of an oviposition-deterring pheromone (ODP) in P. teleius. This hypothetical marking ensures a more even distribution of eggs and possibly increases the chances of survival of caterpillars by reducing competition during both the phytophagous and myrmecophagous stages of development. There are few reports of butterflies producing ODPs and to our knowledge this is the first evidence of their presence in the family Lycaenidae.

Polyommatus ripartii: The Biological Basis for the Conservation and the Morphology of the Developmental Stages of a Critically Endangered, Relict Population in Central Europe

“…This finding is probably the best-documented evidence of a putative oviposition-deterring pheromones in the Lycaenidae. This new observation may confirm the supposition of Sielezniew and Stankiewicz-Fiedurek (2013) that this kind of signaling is more common in Lycaenidae than hitherto recognized. The oviposition-deterring pheromones may reduce larval competition by enabling females to choose shoots on which their larvae are most likely to survive after hatching.…”

Infestation Level Influences Oviposition Site Selection in the Tomato Leafminer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

“…However, many insect species mark the host patch during egg lay to regulate the oviposition site selection [ 17 ]. Especially, oviposition-deterring pheromones associated with egg lay are involved in reducing competition [ 18 ]. Moreover, egg deposition could be responsible for the release of oviposition-induced plant volatiles which could have an impact on female preferences [ 19 ].…”

Butterfly dispersal in inhospitable matrix: rare, risky, but long-distance

“…M. nausithous and M. teleius typically occur sympatrically in wet meadows, sharing the same larval foodplant, Sanguisorba officinalis, which is also a primary nectar source for their adults (Elmes and Thomas 1992;Thomas 1995). Other nectar plants occasionally used by both species, including Vicia cracca, Betonica officinalis, Cirsium arvense, and Veronica longifolia (Thomas 1984;Sielezniew and Stankiewicz-Fiedurek 2013;authors' unpubl. data) grow commonly within grasslands and fallow lands, but very rarely occur in forests.…”