Larvae of Maculinea rebeli, a large-blue butterfly, and their Myrmica host ants: Wild adoption and behaviour in ant nests

Published source details Elmes G.W., Thomas J.A. & Wardlaw J.C. (1991) Larvae of Maculinea rebeli, a large-blue butterfly, and their Myrmica host ants: Wild adoption and behaviour in ant nests. Journal of Zoology, 223, 447-460.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Rear declining species in captivity Action Link

Rear declining species in captivity

A controlled study (years not given) in a laboratory in the UK or France (location not clear) (Elmes et al. 1991) found that the survival of mountain Alcon blue Maculinea rebeli caterpillars reared in captivity differed between ant Myrmica spp. species, but not between colonies with or without queens present. Mountain Alcon blue caterpillars reared with Myrmica schencki (10 out of 99 survived to pupation) had higher survival rates than caterpillars reared with Myrmica sabuleti (4/78 survived), Myrmica scabrinodis (2/43 survived), Myrmica rubra (1/112 survived), Myrmica ruginodis (4/71 survived) or Myrmica sulcinodis (1/24 survived). The survival of caterpillars reared for three weeks in colonies with queens was 31–89%, compared to 43–78% without queens (statistical significance not assessed, see paper for details on each ant species). Over five years, >800 mountain Alcon blue caterpillars were introduced to 120 ant colonies kept in small plastic “Brian” nests (no further details provided). Colonies were collected from France and England, fed fruit flies Drosophila spp. and sucrose, and kept at a constant temperature which was adjusted weekly to mimic natural temperatures. Caterpillars were collected on their food plant, and placed into the foraging areas of the ants after emergence. Caterpillar survival was monitored for between three weeks and 10 months (to pupation) in the ant nests.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)