terblanche 2 life history.qxd 2004/04/08 02:19 Page 55 The application of life history information to the conservation manage- ment of Chrysoritis butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in South Africa R.F. TERBLANCHE and H. VAN HAMBURG Terblanche, R.F. and H. van Hamburg. 2004. The application of life history information to the conservation management of Chrysoritis butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in South Africa. Koedoe 47(1): 55–65. Pretoria. ISSN 0075-6458. Due to their intricate life histories and the unique wing patterns and colouring the but- terflies of the genus Chrysoritis are of significant conservation and aesthetic value. This overview probes into practical examples of butterfly life history research applicable to environmental management of this relatively well-known invertebrate group in South Africa. Despite the pioneer work on life histories of Chrysoritis in the past, more should be done to understand the life history of the butterflies in the wild, especially their nat- ural host plants and the behaviour of adults and larvae. A system of voucher specimens of host plants should be introduced in South Africa. Although various host plant species in nature are used by the members of Chrysoritis, including the Chrysoritis chrysaor group, the choice of these in nature by each species is significant for conservation man- agement and in the case of Chrysoritis aureus perhaps even as a specific characteristic. A revision of the ant genus Crematogaster will benefit the conservation management of Chrysoritis species since some of these ant species may consist of a number of species with much more restricted distributions than previously thought. Rigorous quantified studies of population dynamics of Chrysoritis butterflies are absent and the introduction of such studies will benefit conservation management of these localised butterflies extensively. Key words: Chrysoritis, myrmecophilous, endemic, conservation, life histories, man- agement, taxonomy, ecology, synecology. R.F. Terblanche and H. Van Hamburg, School of Environmental Sciences and Develop- ment, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom University for CHE, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa. Introduction World-wide, the symbioses of butterflies and ants are found only among members of the Williams (1996) reported a lack of informa- Riodinidae and Lycaenidae (De Vries 1997) tion on the life histories of South African but- and at present the Riodinidae is often regard- terflies despite the most valuable efforts of ed as a subfamily Riodininae within the the past. Pioneer lepidopterists (including Lycaenidae (Eliot 1973; Eliot 1990; Pierce et Clark, Claassens, Dickson, Cottrell, G.A. al. 2002). Although the Riodininae is poorly Henning, S.F. Henning and Heath) provided represented in Africa, the rest of the a rich source of life history information in the Lycaenidae is well-represented in most habi- past, useful for environmental management. tat types on the continent. Judging by the Further research priorities are identified here. number of species, the majority of South This paper reviews the life history informa- African butterflies belong to the family tion on the Chrysoritis genus to date, and dis- Lycaenidae. From our list of 674 butterfly cusses how applicable this information is for species, i.e. superfamilies Hesperioidea: conservation management. ‘skipper butterflies’ and Papilionoidea: ‘true ISSN 0075-6458 55 Koedoe 47/1 (2004) terblanche 2 life history.qxd 2004/04/08 02:19 Page 56 butterflies’ in South Africa, 49 % of the descriptions of the life histories of some species belong to the family Lycaenidae. The Chrysoritis species or information on the majority of these Lycaenidae species are host plants and attendant ants. The first associated with ants. A diversity of strategies major work on the life histories of has developed into ant associations among Lycaenidae butterflies of South Africa was the Lycaenidae. Extremes, from aphy- that of Clark & Dickson (1971) that contains tophagy (Cottrell 1984) to facultative ant a number of detailed life history descrip- associations, have been recorded. The term tions. A summary of recent observations of entomophagous is used by Pierce et al. ant associations and life history adaptations (2002) instead of aphytophagy, which alter of Lycaenidae butterflies in South Africa is the normal use of entomophagous as ‘insect- given by Heath & Claassens (2000). Heath eating’ to ‘eating insect-derived food (1997) for the first time reported the exten- sources’. Apart from the term ento- sive use of Thesium plants (Santalaceae) as mophagous, all the other definitions to host plants by Chrysoritis species. The describe lycaenid-ant associations as defined importance of the presence of the correct ant by Pierce et al. are followed here. Note that as an oviposition stimulus for most Pierce et al. (2002) use the terms obligate Chrysoritis species, at least in captivity, is and facultative ant associations in terms of reported (Heath & Claassens 2000). Clark & survival under field conditions, which is Dickson (1971) concluded that Chrysoritis strictly followed here. dicksoni is aphytophagous, since larvae refused to feed on any plant that females had Given the nature and complexity of larvae laid on. The mature larvae and pupa were ant symbioses, there is much to be learnt found in Crematogaster ant nests (Cotrell from their studies that will be relevant to all 1984). Heath & Brinkman (1995), Heath branches of biology (De Vries 1997). The (1998) and Heath & Claassens (2000) various types of associations with ants (Hen- demonstrated that at least in some larval ning 1983a; Cottrell 1984; Pierce et al. stages, the larvae of Chrysoritis dicksoni are 2002) by Lycaenidae butterflies, should be sustained by trophallaxis. Among the appreciated in that different conservation Chrysoritis genus trophallaxis (ants feeding strategies should probably be applied to con- caterpillars by regurgitation) has thus been serve these, often localised, butterflies. reported only for Chrysoritis dicksoni by Heath (1998). The majority of the Chrysori- tis species, with the possible exception of Discussion Chrysoritis dicksoni, seems to be phy- Detailed life history descriptions that entail tophagous accompanied by an obligate ant most stages and some illustrations have only association (Tables 1- 4). been published for 35.7 % of all the No voucher material of host plants has been Chrysoritis species in South Africa cited in all the above cases. Although the (Table 1). It should be added that ecophysio- genera and even some of the plant species logical studies of interactions between but- identified leave little doubt about its identifi- terfly larvae and host plants as well as atten- cation, the lack of voucher specimens may dant ants are absent, not only for Chrysoritis be a limitation to future research efforts. but for almost all the butterflies of South Cottrell (1984) highlighted the problems Africa. At least one host plant and one atten- associated with the fragmented observations dant ant are known, respectively, for 83.3 % of life histories of aphytophagous butterflies. and 88.1 % of the Chrysoritis species. These These are also applicable to the ant-depen- relatively high numbers are due to the con- dent phytophagous Chrysoritis species. tribution of Heath (1997a) (Table 1). Dick- Thomas et al. (1989) summarised the diffi- son (1940, 1943, 1944, 1945a, 1945b, 1946, culties with the accuracy of interpretations of 1947, 1948, 1953, 1959 and 1965) gave captive observations, the misinterpretation either detailed and well-illustrated (by Clark) of field data, as well as the misidentification Koedoe 47/1 (2004) 56 ISSN 0075-6458 terblanche 2 life history.qxd 2004/04/08 02:19 Page 57 of ant species concerning research on Macu- cal level is discussed by using Chrysoritis linea butterflies and their ant associations in aureus as an example. Europe. Heath (2001) demonstrated that the choice of The question is whether quantitative labora- larval host plant is not a major issue within a tory-controlled observations and careful species group of Chrysoritis and should not observations in the field concerning the life be regarded as a specific characteristic. The histories of Chrysoritis species are available variety of host plants used by Chrysoritis, or not. Most Chrysoritis species were bred in even in the same species group such as the captivity (where behaviour and requirements Chrysoritis chrysaor species group seems to are abnormal). Therefore little information support this hypothesis. Pierce (1984) pro- exists under controlled conditions or in the posed two ways by which ant association field. We discuss the present knowledge of could have enhanced diversification of the the host plant association and attendant ant Lycaenidae, once it evolved. The first is by association separately for simplicity. inducing a higher incidence of host plant switching and the second is by modifying the butterfly population structure. An example in The host plant association Chrysoritis is the observation that Chrysori- A summary of the host plant genera, host tis aethon larva used a Crassula species as plant families, and attendant ant genera asso- host plant, and not only the known host plant Rhus zeyheri (Anacardiaceae), that was ciated with the species groups of Chrysoritis reported by Owen-Johnston (1991). This is given in Table 2. Chrysoritis species have phenomenon should be further investigated adapted to use a variety of host plants from since it might be