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Scarce Large Blue - Maculinea teleius


Scarce Large Blue - Maculinea teleius
Photo Information
Copyright: Harm Alberts (Harm-digitaal) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 108 W: 7 N: 1825] (6959)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): European Butterflies 9 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-06-30 1:53
Viewed: 381
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Maculinea teleius / Scarce Large Blue / Pimpernelblauwtje / Grosser Moorbläuling oder Heller Wiesenknopf-Ameisen-Bläuling / l'Azuré de la Sanguisorbe ou Argus strié.

Host ant specificity of Maculinea teleius was investigated for the first time in Central Asia (northern Mongolia, Khentey Mountains). Pupae of this butterfly were found just before its flying season in the nests of: Myrmica kamtschatica, M.forcipata and M. angulinodis. Soon after adoption the larva of this parasite was noted also in an M. eidmanni nest. This suggests low host specificity of M. teleius and suggests that other Myrmica species may also be suitable hosts.

M. teleius lays its eggs in the buds of the sole host plant (Sanguisorba officinalis). The caterpillars feed in the buds for the first few weeks but are then adopted by ants and spend the rest of their lives below ground in ants’ nests. An essential requirement is sufficient nest densities of specific host ant species.
The caterpillars produce specific host ant’s pheromones, which prevent the caterpillars from being attacked by the ants, even when they start to feed on the host ant’s own brood. M. teleius is regarded to be a “predator species”, which means that its caterpillars eat the ant brood and are not directly fed by the ants. The enormous consumption of ant brood allows only a few caterpillars per host ant‘s nest. A very high density of M. teleius larvae could even lead to a serious threat for the long-term existence of a host ant’s nest.

Harm
accassidy, Argus, roges, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 565 W: 0 N: 472] (2922)
  • [2009-06-30 11:22]

Hi Harm !

Uitstekende macro.
Zeer goed gemaakt en afgespeeld.
Een mooie avond
Adrian

Hello Harm,
excellent documentation of that rare species, perfect instructive notes.
With thanks, and best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2009-07-02 0:41]

une tres belle prise!
les couleurs sont magnifiques!
une composition reussie!

merci.

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