Maculinea nausithous exploits Myrmica scabrinodis in Transylvania: unusual host ant species of a myrmecophilous butterfly in an isolated region (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae; Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Tartally, András and Rákosy, L. and Vizauer, T. C. and Goia, M. and Varga, Z. (2008) Maculinea nausithous exploits Myrmica scabrinodis in Transylvania: unusual host ant species of a myrmecophilous butterfly in an isolated region (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae; Hymenoptera: Formicidae). SOCIOBIOLOGY, 51 (2). pp. 373-380. ISSN 0361-6525

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Abstract

Isolated populations of the myrmecophilous Dusky Large Blue butterfly (Maculinea nausithous) occur in Transylvania (Romania). The hitherto unknown host ant specificity of these populations was investigated at two sites, where Myrmica scabrinodis was the only potential host ant found. A total of 107 M. scabrinodis nests were opened in early summer to check for the presence of M. nausithous larvae, and two of them contained overwintered larvae. Our observations suggest that, like the habitat, the host ant of these isolated populations essentially differs from other central European M. nausithous populations studied, which use exclusively Myrmica rubra.

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