To lay or not to lay: oviposition of Maculinea arion in relation to Myrmica ant presence and host plant phenology

Patricelli, Dario; Barbero, Francesca; Morgia, Valentina La; Casacci, Luca Pietro; Witek, Magdalena; Balletto, Emilio; Bonelli, Simona

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.07.011

Cited by 32 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…There are contradictory data about Phengaris (Maculinea) butterflies. Some authors are of the opinion that the phenological state of the larval food plant and microhabitat conditions are the most important cues (Thomas & Elmes, 2001;Nowicki et al, 2005a;Musche et al, 2006;Fürst & Nash, 2010) but other studies suggest ant-mediated oviposition (Van Dyck et al, 2000;Wynhoff et al, 2008;Van Dyck & Regniers, 2010;Patricelli et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behavioural evidence for a putative oviposition-deterring pheromone in the butterfly, Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Sielezniew¹,

Stankiewicz-Fiedurek²

2013

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. Larvae of the endangered Scarce Large Blue butterfly, Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius, are initially endophytic, feeding upon developing seeds of Sanguisorba officinalis, but complete their development as social parasites preying on the brood of Myrmica ants. Females show very specific preferences, laying eggs exclusively in young flower heads of the food plant. In the present contribution we report the results of a detailed study of female behaviour at three sites differing in size and abundance of S. officinalis. Tracked individuals switched between feeding on nectar (nectaring), flight and oviposition. They fed exclusively on flowers of reddish, pink or violet colouration, favouring Viccia cracca and S. officinalis. However, females spent about one fifth of the time they were active ovipositing and laid about 20 eggs per hour. Oviposition visits to flower heads were highly stereotyped and followed a specific ritual. Examination of accepted, rejected and randomly sampled flower heads showed that females avoided those containing conspecific eggs and at a site where this was difficult due to a shortage of suitable flower heads, they tended to distribute their eggs evenly among the available flower heads. Our results indirectly indicate the existence of an oviposition-deterring pheromone (ODP) in P. teleius. This hypothetical marking ensures a more even distribution of eggs and possibly increases the chances of survival of caterpillars by reducing competition during both the phytophagous and myrmecophagous stages of development. There are few reports of butterflies producing ODPs and to our knowledge this is the first evidence of their presence in the family Lycaenidae.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…are also relatively short and behaviour does not suggest marking (own observations). However, in Italy where there is an alternative larval food plant (Origanum vulgare) females spend more time evaluating oviposition sites on plants within the foraging territory of their Myrmica hosts (Patricelli et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural evidence for a putative oviposition-deterring pheromone in the butterfly, Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Sielezniew¹,

Stankiewicz-Fiedurek²

2013

Eur. J. Entomol.

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“…All the aforementioned studies accounted for the role of single host ant species in the butterfly's oviposition choices and did not take into consideration all the potential Myrmica species present at the sites (Van Dyck et al, 2000;Thomas and Elmes, 2001;Wynhoff et al, 2008;Fürst and Nash, 2010). On the other hand, recently a correlation was found between Maculinea arion oviposition choices and the presence of any Myrmica species in the surroundings of the host plant (Patricelli et al, 2011). How the female's selection of a valuable oviposition site is influenced by the closeness of Myrmica nests is still unclear.…”

Section: Arnaldomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…aloba Tartally et al, 2013 Maculinea alcon cruciata ecotype cuckoo M. schencki Thomas et al, 1989;Steiner et al, 2003;Stankiewicz et al, 2005a;Tartally et al, 2008a, Sielezniew andDziekanska, 2009 M. sabuleti Thomas et al, 1989;Steiner et al, 2003;Tartally et al, 2008a M. scabrinodis Thomas et al, 1989;Steiner et al, 2003;Tartally et al, 2008a M. specioides Steiner et al, 2003;Tartally et al, 2008a M. sulcinodis Maculinea arion predatory M. sabuleti, M. scabrinodis Thomas et al, 1989;Sielezniew et al, 2010a M. schencki, M. lobicornis, M. hellenica, M. rugulosa Sielezniew and Stankiewicz, 2008;Sielezniew et al, 2010 Maculinea nausithous cuckoo/ predatory M. lonae, M. sulcinodis Sielezniew et al, 2010b;Casacci et al, 2011 M. rubra Thomas et al, 1989;Stankiewicz and ...…”

Section: Tartally Et Al 2008amentioning

confidence: 99%

Myrmica ants host highly diverse parasitic communities: from social parasites to microbes

2014

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Myrmica ants have been model species for studies in a variety of disciplines, including insect physiology, chemical communication, ant social dynamics, ant population, community ecology, and ant interactions with other organisms. Species belonging to the genus Myrmica can be found in virtually every habitat within the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and their biology and systematics have been thoroughly studied. These ants serve as hosts to highly diverse parasitic organisms from socially parasitic butterfly caterpillars to microbes, and many Myrmica species even evolved into parasitizing species of their own genus. These parasites have various impacts both on the individuals and on the social structure of their hosts, ranging from morphological malformations to reduction in colony fitness. A comprehensive review of the parasitic organisms supported by Myrmica and the effects of these organisms on individuals and on whole ant colonies has not yet been compiled. Here, we provide a review of the interactions of these organisms with Myrmica ants by discussing host and parasite functional, behavioral or physiological adaptations. In addition, for all "symbiont groups" of Myrmica ants described in this paper, we examine the present limitations of the knowledge at present of their impact on individuals and host colony fitness. In conclusion, we argue that Myrmica ants serve as remarkable resource for the evolution of a wide variety of associated organisms.

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“…If this point has been rarely considered, then the reason is likely to be found in: (i) a limited focus on a subset of resources and/or limited attributes of a resource (i.e., biomass), (ii) inattention to site resource attributes (composition, physiognomy [which also locates sites within environmental contexts], connectivity), particularly integration and compaction, and (iii) difficulties of identifying and measuring resource parameters (Dennis 2010). Nevertheless, it is well substantiated that varied resource attributes, other than biomass, within a site (biotope) can be critical for resource exploitation; clear examples are the placement of resources in different heat/shade environments (e.g., Euphydryas editha, Weiss et al 1988;Lycaeides melissa, Grundel et al 1998; Hamearis lucina, Anthes et al 2008), and the degree and nature of resource integration and compaction (i.e., affecting competition and predation levels, as well as resource conditions) (Maculinea arion, Elmes & Thomas 1992;Patricelli et al 2011).…”

Section: The Resource-based Habitat: Implications For Conservation Bimentioning

confidence: 99%

Ten years of the resource-based habitat paradigm: the biotope-habitat issue and implications for conserving butterfly diversity

Dennis

Dapporto

Dover

2014

J. Insect Biodiversity

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Abstract:The widely used term 'habitat' underlies all aspects of a species' (and community's) population size, consequently population changes, distribution and range size and changes; ultimately, habitat parameters determine the status of species, whether thriving or threatened with extinction. Habitat parameters also lie at the root of species' evolution (speciation) involving cycles of resource specialism/generalism. A basic problem is that habitat has long been treated as synonymous with biotope. But, the two variable terms habitat and biotope describe very different phenomena and we make a case for clarity in the use of the term 'habitat', especially when the focus is conserving biodiversity. In this review, in reference to butterflies, we distinguish habitat from biotope as a real, grounded resourcesbased and conditions-based entity, and explain how usage of the terms greatly affects our perception of population status, and of population, distribution, range and speciation processes, central to conserving biodiversity.Key words: Biodiversity, biotope, climate change, dispersal, ecotone, extinction, generalismspecialism, geographical range, habitat, migration, population, speciation.

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To lay or not to lay: oviposition of Maculinea arion in relation to Myrmica ant presence and host plant phenology

Cited by 32 publications

References 43 publications

Behavioural evidence for a putative oviposition-deterring pheromone in the butterfly, Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Behavioural evidence for a putative oviposition-deterring pheromone in the butterfly, Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Myrmica ants host highly diverse parasitic communities: from social parasites to microbes

Ten years of the resource-based habitat paradigm: the biotope-habitat issue and implications for conserving butterfly diversity

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