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Polymorphic growth rates in myrmecophilous insects.

K Schönrogge1, J C Wardlaw, J A Thomas

  • 1Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Furzebrook Research Station, Wareham, Dorset, UK. ksc@ceh.ac.uk

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|May 20, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Larval growth polymorphism, where caterpillars develop over one or two years, is common in myrmecophilous butterflies like Maculinea alcon and predators such as Microdon mutabilis.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Entomology

Background:

  • Myrmecophilous insects, like the butterfly Maculinea rebeli, exhibit complex life cycles integrated with host ants.
  • Polymorphism in larval growth rates, with development spanning one or two years, was previously observed in Maculinea rebeli populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of growth rate polymorphism in other myrmecophilous species.
  • To determine if this polymorphism is a general adaptation to myrmecophily or specific to certain species.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of larval development and pre-pupation body weights.
  • Data collection across different populations and host ant species for Maculinea alcon.
  • Examination of Maculinea arion and Microdon mutabilis larval development.

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Main Results:

  • Maculinea alcon exhibits the same one- or two-year development pattern as M. rebeli across diverse European populations and hosts.
  • Unexpectedly, predatory species Maculinea arion and Microdon mutabilis also show bimodal distributions in larval weight, indicating similar growth polymorphisms.
  • This suggests the growth polymorphism is a broader adaptation to myrmecophily, potentially arising from convergent evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Growth rate polymorphism is a widespread adaptation in myrmecophilous insects, including both butterflies and their predators.
  • Biennialism in predatory species may be linked to host ant migratory behavior and the predator's fasting ability.
  • This polymorphism might represent an ancestral trait in Maculinea butterflies, becoming fixed in cuckoo-feeding species.