Ant flees with its Queen larvae from a butterfly larvae.
Jul 10, 2015 12:49:22 GMT
deliasfanatic and cabintom like this
Post by nomad on Jul 10, 2015 12:49:22 GMT
When I was out looking for Large Blues, I found this Ant carrying a fully grown larvae. David Simcox who was instrumental in reintroducing the Large Blue, sent these comments.
" is an excellent photo of a Myrmica ant (almost certainly M.sabuleti), carrying the pre-pupae of a queen. This is quite a common occurrence but is seldom seen or photographed. Like many bird species, the population of Myrmica ants is partially governed by available nest sites and we know form our research Daneway Banks, in line with other Large blue sites, has a density of >1 M.sabuleti nest per m2. "
"Jeremy Thomas’ remarkable research on Large blues in the 1970s discovered that more than half of all Large blue caterpillars eat all the brood of the nest they are ‘adopted’ by. When this happens the ants desert but the caterpillar waits for more food to arrive. An adjacent, un-parasitised colony, will utilize the newly available nest site by ‘budding-off’ and carrying its brood to set up a new nest: the caterpillar then takes advantage of this new food supply. "
"So rather than these ants fleeing a Large blue caterpillar they are very likely walking towards one. "
"Great observation Nomad and my apologies for not posting this sooner. "
The Large caterpillar is certainly is a lion in sheeps clothing.
" is an excellent photo of a Myrmica ant (almost certainly M.sabuleti), carrying the pre-pupae of a queen. This is quite a common occurrence but is seldom seen or photographed. Like many bird species, the population of Myrmica ants is partially governed by available nest sites and we know form our research Daneway Banks, in line with other Large blue sites, has a density of >1 M.sabuleti nest per m2. "
"Jeremy Thomas’ remarkable research on Large blues in the 1970s discovered that more than half of all Large blue caterpillars eat all the brood of the nest they are ‘adopted’ by. When this happens the ants desert but the caterpillar waits for more food to arrive. An adjacent, un-parasitised colony, will utilize the newly available nest site by ‘budding-off’ and carrying its brood to set up a new nest: the caterpillar then takes advantage of this new food supply. "
"So rather than these ants fleeing a Large blue caterpillar they are very likely walking towards one. "
"Great observation Nomad and my apologies for not posting this sooner. "
The Large caterpillar is certainly is a lion in sheeps clothing.
