Accelerated development of Maculinea rebeli larvae under artificial conditions (Lycaenidae)

Tartally, András (2005) Accelerated development of Maculinea rebeli larvae under artificial conditions (Lycaenidae). NOTA LEPIDOPTEROLOGICA, 27 (4). pp. 303-308. ISSN 0342-7536

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Abstract

In the years 2000 to 2003, 93 Maculinea alcon ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) larvae from three localities in Hungary and 261 M. rebeli (Hirschke, 1904) larvae from three localities in Hungary and from one locality in Austria were introduced into 103 Myrmica colonies in the laboratory. Seven specimens of M. rebeli pupated after only about a month in artificial Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander, 1846, My. sabuleti Meinert, 1860 and My. salina Ruzsky, 1905 nests. This phenomenon was found in each of the four studied populations. Two pupae successfully eclosed, one 32 and the other 47 days after adoption. The other five pupae died. These results confirm observations that the developmental time of M. rebeli larvae can be plastic. A similarly accelerated development of M. alcon larvae was never observed. The accelerated development of M. rebeli larvae might be attributed to (1) the higher temperatures in the laboratory as compared with natural conditions, and/or to (2) the artificial Myrmica nests which were more exposed to light than under natural conditions, and/or to (3) the balanced artificial diet that the Myrmica colonies received.

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