Maculinea alcon exploits Myrmica aloba in Portugal: unusual host ant species of a myrmecophilous butterfly in a peripheral region

Arnaldo, Paula Seixas; Wynhoff, Irma; Soares, Patrícia; Rodrigues, Maria da Conceição; Aranha, José; Csősz, Sándor; Maravalhas, Ernestino; Tartally, András

doi:10.1007/s10841-010-9316-0

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To get further insight into the relationship between Phengaris and Myrmica ants, we studied the largest known population of Phengaris alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775), commonly known as the Alcon Blue, in Portugal (Rodrigues et al ., ; Arnaldo et al ., ). The local population of P. alcon is dependent on the marsh gentian ( Gentiana pneumonanthe L.) as its single host plant and Myrmica aloba Forel, 1909 as the single host ant (Arnaldo et al ., ). Our goal was to identify the influence of plant characteristics and the presence of Myrmica ant nests on oviposition choices over time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The caterpillar spends around 10–11 or even 22–23 months in the ant nest, being fed by ants or feeding on ant brood (Elmes et al ., ; Thomas et al ., ; Schönrogge et al ., ; Als et al ., ; Witek et al ., ). To date, thirteen species of Myrmica have been described as hosts for Phengaris in Europe (Als et al ., ; Steiner et al ., ; Tartally et al ., ; Arnaldo et al ., ; Witek et al., ). However, depending on location, the survival rate of the caterpillars in the ant nests differs between ant species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Phengaris (Maculinea) alconbutterflies deposit their eggs on tall plants with many large buds in the vicinity ofMyrmicaants

Wynhoff

Bakker

Oteman

et al. 2014

Insect Conserv Diversity

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. The survival of eggs and larvae is dependent on the oviposition site selection of their mothers. In obligate myrmecophilic butterflies, both host plant phenology and host ant presence are expected to affect the decision where to deposit eggs. The importance of ant nest presence in the oviposition site selection of Phengaris butterflies is, however, highly debated.2. We studied oviposition in the largest Phengaris (Maculinea) alcon population in Portugal, exploiting Gentiana pneumonanthe as the host plant and Myrmica aloba as host ant. We collected phenological plant data and recorded the presence and number of eggs on plants with and without Myrmica ants nearby during the flight period of the butterfly.3. Females oviposited on tall plants with many tall buds, while the presence of host ant nests weakly affected oviposition on plants where the probability of finding ants at close range was high. Moreover, larger plants with many tall buds close to host ant nests received more eggs. 4. A density-dependent shift in oviposition was not found as the proportion of buds not infected with eggs did not differ between plants with or without ants, whereas plant characteristics did have an effect. Tall plants with many large buds were associated with earlier oviposition. 5. Our results suggest that females of P. alcon in Portugal choose gentian plants for oviposition mainly based on plant characteristics whereas the vicinity of ants had a weak effect. Moreover, our study shows that testing the ant-mediated oviposition hypothesis requires baiting ants more than once.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phengaris (Maculinea) alconbutterflies deposit their eggs on tall plants with many large buds in the vicinity ofMyrmicaants

Wynhoff

Bakker

Oteman

et al. 2014

Insect Conserv Diversity

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…‘ rebeli ’ used almost exclusively Myrmica schencki Viereck, 1902 as a host species (Thomas et al ., ). Later, however, it became obvious that they both use a number of other Myrmica species (Elmes et al ., ; Als et al ., ; Steiner et al ., ; Sielezniew & Stankiewicz, ; Tartally, ; Tartally et al ., ; Arnaldo et al ., ). The two forms also have different flight periods, generally: M .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…As for the host ant, at first it was believed that M. alcon used mainly Myrmica ruginodis and M. 'rebeli' used almost exclusively Myrmica schencki Viereck, 1902 as a host species (Thomas et al, 1989). Later, however, it became obvious that they both use a number of other Myrmica species (Elmes et al, 1994;Als et al, 2002;Steiner et al, 2003;Sielezniew & Stankiewicz, 2004;Tartally, 2005;Tartally et al, 2008a;Arnaldo et al, 2010). The two forms also have different flight periods, generally: M. 'rebeli' flies from mid-June, to mid-July, with a peak usually at the end of June or beginning of July and M. alcon from mid-July until the end of August, with a peak usually around the end of July (Meyer-Hozak, 2000;Sielezniew et al, 2003;Sielezniew & Stankiewicz, 2007;K} or€ osi et al, 2008;Nowicki et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in oviposition strategies between two ecotypes of the endangered myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) under unique syntopic conditions

Czekes

Markó

Nash

et al. 2013

Insect Conserv Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Alcon Blue Maculinea alcon and the Mountain Alcon Blue Maculinea ‘rebeli’ are obligate ant‐parasitic butterflies with no distinct morphological and genetic differences but clear ecological separation. The two butterflies generally lay their eggs on distinct host plant species: M. alcon on Gentiana pneumonanthe and M. ‘rebeli’ on Gentiana cruciata. The egg‐laying behaviour of these two ecotypes has previously only been investigated in sympatric, but not in syntopic populations. We studied the egg‐laying preferences of M. alcon and M. ‘rebeli’ in a unique area where they co‐occur, and where they use different host plants. The distance to the nearest other host plant does not seem to influence the decision of female butterflies as to whether to lay eggs on a specific host plant. The two butterflies laid their eggs on different parts of their host plants: M. alcon preferred the sepals of G. pneumonanthe flower buds, while M. ‘rebeli’ laid most eggs on the leaves of G. cruciata. The major factor correlated with the number of eggs laid on the host plant seemed to be plant quality (number of flowers, stem length, etc.) for both butterflies. The present study reveals behavioural differences between the two Alcon Blue forms under unique syntopic conditions, a hidden intraspecific diversity that is worth conserving.

show abstract

“…In Phengaris butterflies, this results in local host ant specificity, with some butterfly species being adapted to different host ant species on different locations. To date, 16 species of Myrmica have been described as host ants for Phengaris in Europe (Als et al., ; Steiner et al., ; Tartally et al., ; Witek et al., ,b, ; Arnaldo et al., ). To reduce the costs of such an expensive way of raising larvae, strong selection on oviposition site choice is expected, and this choice should include the host plants that are located within the spatial distribution of host ant nests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius butterflies select host plants close to Myrmica ants for oviposition, but P. nausithous do not

Wynhoff

Langevelde

2017

Entomologia Exp Applicata

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many lycaenid butterfly species have interactions with ants, with 12% obligatorily depending on two sequential sources of larval food, namely host plants and host ants. When host plants are abundant but the density of host ant nests is relatively low, most host plants have no host ant nest in their vicinity and are thus unsuitable for larval survival. Obligatorily myrmecophilous female butterflies, whose caterpillars feed on ant larvae, would have a comparative advantage if they deposit eggs on host plants in the proximity of a host ant nest. However, this ant‐mediated oviposition has been hotly debated. In an open‐air insectory experiment, we tested whether oviposition is ant‐mediated or not for two obligatory myrmecophilous butterfly species, Phengaris (Maculinea) nausithous Bergsträsser and Phengaris teleius Bergsträsser (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Female butterflies could select host plants close to either no ant nest or a nest of one of the two Myrmica species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) that are thought to be their host ant. Our results support ant‐mediated oviposition in P. teleius, but also indicate that there is no preference for either of the Myrmica species. More eggs were deposited and more caterpillars were found on long flowerheads close to Myrmica ant nests than on those without nests. Our findings suggest that ant presence is more important than flowerhead phenology for females of P. teleius. In contrast, P. nausithous females were not attracted by ants but preferred long flowerheads with a low percentage of green coloration. With these findings, this study contributes to better understanding of the habitat requirements of two highly specialized butterfly species.

show abstract

Maculinea alcon exploits Myrmica aloba in Portugal: unusual host ant species of a myrmecophilous butterfly in a peripheral region

Cited by 9 publications

References 10 publications

Phengaris (Maculinea) alconbutterflies deposit their eggs on tall plants with many large buds in the vicinity ofMyrmicaants

Phengaris (Maculinea) alconbutterflies deposit their eggs on tall plants with many large buds in the vicinity ofMyrmicaants

Differences in oviposition strategies between two ecotypes of the endangered myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) under unique syntopic conditions

Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius butterflies select host plants close to Myrmica ants for oviposition, but P. nausithous do not

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About