Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2010.01213.x
Titel (primär) Local host ant specificity of Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius butterfly, an obligatory social parasite of Myrmica ants
Autor Witek, M.; Nowicki, P.; Śliwińska, E.B.; Skórka, P.; Settele, J.; Schönrogge, K.; Woyciechowski, M.
Quelle Ecological Entomology
Erscheinungsjahr 2010
Department BZF
Band/Volume 35
Heft 5
Seite von 557
Seite bis 564
Sprache englisch
Keywords Local host specificity; Maculinea, myrmecophily; Myrmica; Phengaris; social parasites
Abstract 1. Phengaris butterflies are obligatory social parasites of Myrmica ants. Early research suggested that there is a different Myrmica host species for each of the five European Phengaris social parasites, but more recent studies have shown that this was an oversimplification.2. The pattern of host ant specificity within a Phengaris teleius metapopulation from southern Poland is reported. A combination of studying the frequency distribution ofPhengaris occurrence and morphometrics on adult butterflies were used to test whether use of different host species is reflected in larval development.3. Phengaris teleius larvae were found to survive in colonies of four Myrmica species: M. scabrinodis, M. rubra, M. ruginodis, and M. rugulosa. Myrmica scabrinodis was the most abundant species under the host plant but the percentage of infested nests was similar to other host ant species at two sites and lower in comparison to nests of M. rubra and M. ruginodis at the other two sites. Morphometric measurements of adult butterflies reared by wild colonies of M. scabrinodis and M. ruginodis showed that wing size and number of wing spots were slightly greater for adults eclosing from nests of M. ruginodis.4. Our results suggest that P. teleius in the populations studied is less specialised than previously suggested. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that P. teleiusis expected to be the least specific of the European Phengaris species, as it has the largest and best defended fourth-instar caterpillars and, as a predatory species, it spendsless time in the central larval chambers of the host colonies. The fact that individuals reared by M. ruginodis had wider hind wings may suggest that P. teleius had betteraccess to resources in M. ruginodis than in M. scabrinodis colonies.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=10670
Witek, M., Nowicki, P., Śliwińska, E.B., Skórka, P., Settele, J., Schönrogge, K., Woyciechowski, M. (2010):
Local host ant specificity of Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius butterfly, an obligatory social parasite of Myrmica ants
Ecol. Entomol. 35 (5), 557 - 564 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2010.01213.x