Eur. J. Entomol. 104 (3): 433-444, 2007 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2007.063

Differences in the development of the closely related myrmecophilous butterflies Maculinea alcon and M. rebeli (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Marcin SIELEZNIEW*,1, Anna M. STANKIEWICZ2
1 Department of Applied Entomology, SGGW - Warsaw Agriculture University, Nowoursynowska 159, PL-02-776 Warszawa, Poland
2 Laboratory of Social and Myrmecophilous Insects, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences; Wilcza 64, PL-00-679 Warszawa, Poland; e-mail: ams@miiz.waw.pl

The initially phytophagous caterpillars of Maculinea alcon and M. rebeli complete their development in Myrmica ant colonies as social parasites. Recent genetic studies show no differences at the species level among various populations of each butterfly taxa. Usually M. alcon and M. rebeli are identified by habitat and larval food plants (Gentianaceae) and host ant specificity is also considered to be an important feature. However most of the ecological characteristics overlap at least in some parts of their distributions. The developmental and survival characteristics of caterpillars reared by different Myrmica species were compared in laboratory experiments and in the field. Morphologically indistinguishable M. alcon and M. rebeli, which originated from Polish populations, are very similar in terms of host specificity i.e. larvae survived both with M. scabrinodis and M. sabuleti. However they showed different growth characteristics. The earlier flight period of M. rebeli, which is synchronized with the phenology of Gentiana cruciata, resulted from the quick growth of caterpillars in Myrmica nests in the pre-winter phase, when they gained about half of their final body biomass. After the end of winter they recommenced growth almost immediately. M. alcon larvae entered diapause shortly after adoption by ants and began to increase in weight significantly just one month after the onset of spring, which synchronized their development with that of their larval food plant, G. pneumonanthe. Therefore neither population group is transferable between habitats and should still be regarded, at least, as distinct conservational units.

Keywords: Lycaenidae, Maculinea alcon, Maculinea rebeli, Myrmica ants, myrmecophily, host-ant specificity, growth rate, larval diapause, Gentiana pneumonanthe, Gentiana cruciata, endangered species, Poland

Received: May 12, 2006; Revised: March 19, 2007; Accepted: March 19, 2007; Published: July 25, 2007  Show citation

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SIELEZNIEW, M., & STANKIEWICZ, A.M. (2007). Differences in the development of the closely related myrmecophilous butterflies Maculinea alcon and M. rebeli (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). EJE, 104(3), 433-444. doi: 10.14411/eje.2007.063
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