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Myrmecophilia in Lycaenidae

Community and Forum → Insects biology and faunistics → Myrmecophilia in Lycaenidae

Kharkovbut, 04.02.2009 22:56

Last summer, I had the opportunity to observe the interaction of a fresh male pigeon Plebejus argus with Lasius niger ants (please correct if this is a different ant speciessmile.gif). Similar scenes have been seen in photos in books and on the Internet, and each time with the same participating species. That is, it seems that other types of pigeons were not involved in anything like this. smile.gif

At some point, the argus released a drop from its abdomen. I think (I'm not quite sure) that it was drunk by one of the ants.

Can any of the participants comment on the phenomenon?

Pictures:
 the image is no longer on the site: P_argus_m_un_7_29_2008_Kh_Lesnoe_1_ah.JPG P_argus_m_un_7_29_2008_Kh_Lesnoe_1_ah.JPG — (101.53к) 04.02.2009 — 18.02.2009

Comments

04.02.2009 23:56, Pirx

Last summer I had a chance to observe...


As far as I know, a number of species of pigeons are typical myrmecophiles, there are a lot of articles. Like some flies. Can we wait for specialists? If I understood the question correctly...
Likes: 1

05.02.2009 0:06, Kharkovbut

As far as I know, a number of species of pigeons are typical myrmecophiles, there are a lot of articles. Like some flies. Can we wait for specialists? If I understood the question correctly...
Just in case, I will clarify: I am well aware of the standard facts about myrmecophilia at the CATERPILLAR/PUPAL stage. What is interesting is myrmecophilia in the ADULT stage.

05.02.2009 0:34, RippeR

in my opinion, all, or at least many Maculinea, geese develop the second half of their life in mirmikoslozhashchah, as ants think that these are their own larvae and pupae, because geese secrete a flap exactly the same as the larvae of ants.
So there is a pigeon among the mermikofilagi.

05.02.2009 0:48, Zhuk

Yes, Maculinei are all mermycophiles. I would venture to suggest that when a butterfly comes out of its pupa,it continues to smell like an ant. And so the ants co-plant it when they come out of the anthill.

05.02.2009 1:19, Kharkovbut

OK, that's all good. Of course, the Maculinea are the largest myrmecophiles, and their young caterpillars even feed on ant juveniles. But! The point is that interactions of this kind (between imagos and ants) I haven't seen it for Maculinea. And I met them (in other people's pictures, and now in my own experience) only and precisely for Plebejus argus.

If you have similar information on other types, please share it.

05.02.2009 17:21, Трофим

Thank you Kharkovbut for the photo. It is really interesting, if not serious, that these are rather advanced ants that recruit a butterfly at the imago stage to supply them with live goods. But seriously, the version Zhuka.

05.02.2009 17:37, mikee

People, who can tell you HOW a butterfly comes out of an anthill? With wings and through narrow passages? Or does pupation occur outside the anthill?

05.02.2009 17:40, lepidopterolog

No, pupation is in an anthill, but it comes out with its wings still unfurled.
Likes: 3

07.02.2009 13:42, amara

There's a little bit about it here.
http://gazeta.ru/science/2009/02/06_a_2937031.shtml
Likes: 2

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