Not only the butterflies: managing ants on road verges to benefit Phengaris (Maculinea) butterflies

Abstract

Obligate myrmecophilic butterfly species, such as Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius and P. nausithous, have narrow habitat requirements. Living as a caterpillar in the nests of the ant species Myrmica scabrinodis and M. rubra, respectively, they can only survive on sites with both host ants and the host plant Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis. After having been reintroduced into a nature reserve in the Netherlands in 1990, both butterfly species expanded their distribution to linear landscape elements such as road verges and ditch edges outside this reserve. As additional habitat of both butterfly species, vegetation management of these landscape elements became important. Our results show that a management beneficial for Phengaris butterflies should aim to increase the nest density of Myrmica species, at the same time reducing the density of nests of the competitor Lasius niger or at least keeping them at a low density. Unfavourable grassland management under which L. niger thrives, includes not mowing or flail-cutting the grass, or depositing dredgings along the side of the ditch. Management favourable for the two Myrmica species differs, demanding some flexibility if both species are to benefit. M. scabrinodis is best supported with early mowing of the road verge vegetation or late mowing in the nature reserve, both of which result in an open vegetation and warm microclimate. In contrast, the nest sites of M. rubra should be left undisturbed during the summer, and mown in late autumn. Mowing of butterfly habitat should be avoided between mid-June and mid-September as this would remove the flowerheads of the Sanguisorba plants, on which the butterflies lay their eggs.

Dos and Don’ts for butterflies of the Habitats Directive of the European Union

“…(Anton et al 2008;Anton et al 2007a;Anton et al 2007b; Batáry et al 2009;Dierks and Fischer 2009;Drechsler et al 2007;Ernst 1999;Geissler-Strobel 1999;Grill et al 2008;Johst et al 2006;Lhonoré 1997;Novak et al 2007;Nowicki et al 2007;Nowicki et al 2005;Rakosy et al 2010;Settele et al 2005b;Stettmer et al 2001a;Stettmer et al 2008;Tartally et al 2008;Thomas 1984;Witek et al 2008;Wynhoff 1998;Wynhoff et al 2008;Wynhoff et al 2011) Plebejus aquilo (Boisduval, 1832) Name in the Habitats Directive: Agriades glandon aquilo E: Arctic Blue…”

Fen meadows on the move for the conservation of Maculinea (Phengaris) teleius butterflies

“…Large conservation projects have attempted to restore vegetation communities and habitats of animal species such as birds (Klimkowska et al 2007(Klimkowska et al , 2010Lamers et al 2015;Tallowin and Smith 2001;Żmihorski et al 2016) and butterlies (Gofart et al 2014). In general, however, large-scale restoration projects aimed speciically at insects are rare and the knowledge-base for successful restoration of speciic insect species' habitats is limited (Görn and Fischer 2015), especially for butterlies with narrow, specialist, habitat requirements, such as the obligate myrmecophilic Maculinea (Phengaris) species (Wynhof et al 2008). The caterpillars of this group of species spend most of their development time in nests of speciic Myrmica host ants, where they feed on ant grubs or are fed by worker ants.…”

Railway tracks can have great value for butterflies as a new alternative habitat

“…Moreover, in fragmented landscapes, patterns of species distribution often shift towards the nested subset pattern, in which some habitats are a subset of others that contain a wider pool of species (Atmar & Patterson 1993;Fischer & Lindenmayer 2005;Driscoll 2008). In Europe, xerothermic grasslands and meadows are among the most important habitats for biodiversity preservation, and they are inhabited by many species, including butterflies such as umbrella Maculinea (currently Phengaris) butterflies and other species, listed in the Habitats Directive (WallisDeVries et al 2002;Wynhoff et al 2011;Van Swaay et al 2012). However, the aforementioned habitats are declining and therefore endangered (WallisDeVries et al 2002;Wynhoff et al 2011).…”

“…In Europe, xerothermic grasslands and meadows are among the most important habitats for biodiversity preservation, and they are inhabited by many species, including butterflies such as umbrella Maculinea (currently Phengaris) butterflies and other species, listed in the Habitats Directive (WallisDeVries et al 2002;Wynhoff et al 2011;Van Swaay et al 2012). However, the aforementioned habitats are declining and therefore endangered (WallisDeVries et al 2002;Wynhoff et al 2011). Attention is usually focused on the conservation of target or rare species with specific requirements (e.g.…”

“…Attention is usually focused on the conservation of target or rare species with specific requirements (e.g. Schtickzelle et al 2006;Bąkowski et al 2010;Wynhoff et al 2011;Kalarus et al 2013); nevertheless, other common and widespread species also are in decline (Van Dyck et al 2009). Thus, the conservation of multispecies communities has become problematic and particularly challenging (Settele et al 2009).…”