Myrmecologische Nachrichten 6: 23-27; printable
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.25849/myrmecol.news_006:023
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Year: 2004
- Title: Is Manica rubida (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) a potential host of the Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) group?
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Volume: 6
- Pages: 23-27
- Type of contribution: Original Article
- Supplementary material: Yes
- Abstract: The caterpillars of Maculinea butterflies are obligate parasites of nests of Myrmica (or in certain cases Aphaenogaster) ants during most of their development. Manica rubida (Latreille, 1802) is closely related to ants of the genus Myrmica, and can occur on Maculinea sites. Laboratory colonies of M. rubida were therefore tested for their ability to raise caterpillars of Maculinea rebeli (Hirschke, 1904) and M. alcon (Denis & SCHIFFERMÜLLER, 1775). After introduction into the foraging arenas of these colonies, all caterpillars were taken into the nest by worker ants, where they were often carried and licked. Several caterpillars of both butterflies survived and increased in size for a number of weeks, up to one and a half months. These results suggest that M. rubida could potentially act as a host for Maculinea caterpillars, although whether any local populations have evolved to specialise on this potential host remains to be demonstrated in the fields. Open access, licensed under CC BY 4.0. © 2004 The Author(s).
- Key words: Manica, Maculinea, host specificity, myrmecophily.
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500
Myrmecologische Nachrichten 6: 23-27; supplement_f_M rubida with M rebeli and M alcon
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500
Myrmecologische Nachrichten 6: 23-27; supplement_e_M rubida carrying M rebeli
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500
Myrmecologische Nachrichten 6: 23-27; supplement_d_M rubida licking M alcon and M rebeli
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500
Myrmecologische Nachrichten 6: 23-27; supplement_c_M rubida licking M alcon and M rebeli
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500
Myrmecologische Nachrichten 6: 23-27; supplement_b_M rubida smelling at M alcon
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500