Techniques for studying Maculinea butterflies: I. Rearing Maculinea caterpillars with Myrmica ants in the laboratory
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Published source details
Wardlaw J.C., Elmes G.W. & Thomas J.A. (1998) Techniques for studying Maculinea butterflies: I. Rearing Maculinea caterpillars with Myrmica ants in the laboratory. Journal of Insect Conservation, 2, 79-84.
Published source details Wardlaw J.C., Elmes G.W. & Thomas J.A. (1998) Techniques for studying Maculinea butterflies: I. Rearing Maculinea caterpillars with Myrmica ants in the laboratory. Journal of Insect Conservation, 2, 79-84.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Rear declining species in captivity Action Link |
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Rear declining species in captivity
A review in 1998 (Wardlaw et al. 1998) reported that four species of large blue butterfly Maculinea spp. were bred in captivity using ant Myrmica spp. colonies, with varying success. Alcon blue Maculinea alcon and mountain alcon blue Maculinea rebeli caterpillars were successfully reared in captive ant colonies on different occasions over 20 years (data not presented). Large blue Maculinea arion caterpillars were sometimes reared successfully using two methods, but 13 other nest designs failed (data not presented). Scarce large blue Maculinea teleius caterpillars were reared for up to eight months, using common red ant Myrmica rubra and Myrmica scabrinodis in two nest designs. Wild butterfly eggs were collected on flowering stems of food plants (gentian Gentiana spp., wild thyme Thymus spp., oregano Origanum spp., great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis). Ant colonies (see paper for six species) were collected by excavating nests. Caterpillars were introduced to ant colonies after they dropped from the flower heads. A variety of rearing methods were used, with different nest box designs (see paper for details).
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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