Larval feeding behaviour and myrmecophily of the Brenton Blue, Orachrysops niobe (Trimen) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Published source details Edge D.A. & van Hamburg H. (2003) Larval feeding behaviour and myrmecophily of the Brenton Blue, Orachrysops niobe (Trimen) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera, 42, 21-33.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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Rear declining species in captivity

A study in 2003 in a laboratory in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, (Edge & van Hamburg 2003) reported that Brenton blue butterfly Orachrysops niobe caterpillars reared on stems of their larval host plant Indigofera erecta with no ants became dwarf adults, but one of two larvae reared on a whole Indigofera erecta plant, with a Camponotus baynei ant colony, became a full-sized adult. Brenton blue caterpillars that were reared on cut stems of Indigofera erecta emerged as dwarf adults (average 10–13 mm forewings, number of individuals not provided). Of the two larvae that were reared on a full Indigofera erecta plant with an ant colony, one emerged as a full-sized adult (17 mm) and one died before pupation. No statistics were conducted. For the cut stem treatment, Indigofera erecta stems containing eggs found at the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve were cut and placed in containers. After hatching, fresh stems were provided every few days throughout larval development. Measurements of surviving caterpillars were taken at each instar and during and after pupation. For the whole plant and ant colony treatment, two caterpillars were each placed in connecting containers with an Indigofera erecta plant each. These containers were linked to another compartment containing an ant nest collected from the wild. The surviving caterpillar was measured as an adult.

(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)