Acta entomologica silesiana Vol. 23 (online 018): 1–16 ISSN 1230-7777, ISSN 2353-1703 (online) Bytom, September 23, 2015 New data on the biology of ten lycaenid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) of the genera Tomares RAMBUR, 1840, Pseudophilotes BEURET, 1958, Polyommatus LATREILLE, 1804, and Plebejus KLUK, 1780 from the Crimea and their attending ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Jarosław Bury1, Vladimir saVchuk2 1 Markowa 1498, 37-120 Markowa, e-mail: [email protected] 2 Ukraina, Theodosia, e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. New data on the biology of ten lycaenid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) of the genera Tomares RAMBUR, 1840, Pseudophilotes BEURET, 1958, Polyommatus LATREILLE, 1804, and Plebejus KLUK, 1780 from the Crimea and their attending ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Data on the biology of ten lycaenid species of the genera Tomares ramBur, 1840, Pseudophilotes Beuret, 1958, Polyommatus (Polyommatus) latreille, 1804, Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) hüBner, 1822, Polyommatus (Aricia) reichenBach, 1817, Polyommatus (Meleageria) de sagerra, 1926 and Plebejus kluk, 1780 from the Crimea, their host plants and attending ants are given. Eight new records of attending ants are presented here for the first time – Tetramorium sp. for T. callimachus (eVersman, 1848), Formica (Serviformica) sp. and Plagiolepis sp. for T. nogelli (Freyer, 1851), Formica sp. for P. bavius (eVersman, 1832), Camponotus sp. for Pseudophilotes vicrama (moore, 1865), Camponotus sp. for P. (Polyommatus.) thersites (cantener, 1835), Plagiolepis sp. for P. (Meleageria) daphnis (denis et schiFFermüler, 1775), and Plagiolepis sp. for P. (Agrodiaetus) damocles (herrich-schäFFer, 1844). KEY WORDS: ant-butterfly relationship, host plants, myrmecophily, Ukraine. INTRODUCTION Distribution of butterflies of the family Lycaenidae leach, 1815 is relatively well known in Europe, Ukraine and the Crimea. According to available literature data, 38 species of this family occur currently in the Crimea. However, the ecology and biology of particular species are not always sufficiently understood. Despite the relatively rich literature on the butterflies of Ukraine, there is a noticeable paucity of reports on myrmecophily, an interesting aspect of Lycaenidae biology. Ongoing studies mainly concern the obligatory myrmecophilous species, while there is no data on the facultative myrmecophilous species of Ukraine, in particular, from the Crimea (witek et al. 2008). The paper presents the results of observations of ten lycaenid species from the Crimea: Tomares callimachus (eVersman, 1848), Tomares nogelli (Freyer, 1851), Pseudophilotes bavius (eVersman, 1832), Pseudophilotes vicrama (moore, 1865), Polyommatus (Aricia) agestis (denis et schiFFermüler, 1775), Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) damocles (herrich- schäFFer, 1844), Polyommatus (Meleageria) daphnis (denis et schiFFermüler, 1775), Polyommatus (Polyommatus) icarus (rottemBurg, 1775), Polyommatus (Polyommatus) thersites (canterer, 1835), and Plebejus (Plebejides) pylaon (Fischer de waldheim, 1832), conducted from 2000 to 2011, with special emphasis on their attending ants, larval host plants in the Crimean conditions, and plants that are a source of nectar for butterflies. 1 Acta ent. siles. 23 (online 018) Bytom, September 23, 2015 METHODS Observations were conducted in natural environment. Butterflies, host plants, and plants that are a source of food for butterflies were identified in nature, from pictures taken during the field work, or from the material collected for further study. Some of the larvae were collected for further breeding in the laboratory to identify the species. Attending ants were photographed in the nature from the host caterpillar. Identification was made solely on the basis of photographic materials. Classification of Lycaenidae followsh esselBarth et al. (1995) with hesselBarth & wagener (2000) correction. Ant nomenclature follows that in Bolton (1995). RESULTS Tomares callimachus (eVersman, 1848) Flight-period: univoltine, late March/early June. Ecology: pale green and oval eggs are laid singly within the undeveloped inflorescences of host plants. In Crimea caterpillars feed on Hedysarum candidum BieB., Astragalus utriger Pall., and Astragalus suprapilosus gontsch. Larvae are variable in coloration, with black head and a distinct, dark dorsal line. Larvae feed on flower buds, flowers and inside bloated pods that contain the seeds of Astragalus. Pupation take place at the base of the plant upon which the larvae feed. Hibernates as a brown and stocky pupa. Butterflies willingly rest on the stony ground, withered fragments of plants and host plants, rarely visit flowers, mainly Holosteum umbellatum L., Geranium tuberosum L., Erysimum cuspidatum (m. BieB.) DC., Iris pumila L., and Alyssum spp. Fig. 1. Tomares callimachus (eVersman, 1848) and Tetramorium sp. (photo V. Savchuk). Ryc. 1. Tomares callimachus (eVersman, 1848) i Tetramorium sp. (fot. V. Savchuk). 2 Acta ent. siles. 23 (online 018) Bytom, September 23, 2015 Interactions with ants: larvae have the epidermal glands called perforated cupola organs (PCOs) suppressing aggression of ants. They also have the dorsal nectary organ (DNO) and tentacles (TO) (Fiedler 1995). Under the Crimean conditions larvae are often attended by ants identified as belonging to the genus Tetramorium mayr, 1855 (Fig. 1). Similarly to other species of the genus Tomares ramBur, 1840, larvae association with ants is a facultative myrmecophily (Fiedler 1991, 1995, 2006). Habitat: dry, stony hillsides, covered with sparse and low steppe vegetation, screes, landslides. Distribution: numerous stands in the south-eastern part of Crimea, locally on dispersed, small stands at a height of 300 to 700 m above sea level (akimoV 2009). Tomares nogelli (Freyer, 1851) Flight-period: univoltine, mid-May/early June. Ecology: one to several whitish, oval eggs are laid on the host plant buds. Under the Crimean conditions larvae are monophagous and feed on buds, flowers and immature fruits of Astragalus ponticus Pall. Pupation at the base of the host plant. Hibernates as a pupa. Butterflies do not disperse too far from the host plant Astragalus ponticus Pall., at which many individuals are sometimes grouped. Rarely visit flowers of other plants, mainlyVeronica spp. Interactions with ants: larvae with PCOs, DNO and TO (Fiedler 1995). Larvae are often attended by ants identified as Formica (Serviformica) linnaeus, 1758 (Fig. 2), and Plagiolepis mayr, 1861 (Fig. 3). Similarly to related species, larvae association with ants is a facultative myrmecophily (Fiedler 1991, 1995, 2006). Stocky, brown pupae have the ability to stridulation. Degree of myrmecophily of pupae is unclear (hesselBarth et al. 1995). Habitat: southern, dry, and stony hillsides, covered with sparse woody vegetation, screes, landslides. Distribution: a few stands in the south-eastern part of Crimea, very local, in the area of distribution usually frequent, sometimes relatively numerous. Fig. 2. Tomares nogelii (Freyer, 1851) and Formica (Serviformica) sp. (photo V. Savchuk). Ryc. 2. Tomares nogelii (Freyer, 1851) i Formica (Serviformica) sp. (fot. V. Savchuk). 3 Acta ent. siles. 23 (online 018) Bytom, September 23, 2015 Fig. 3. Tomares nogelii (Freyer, 1851) and Plagiolepis sp. (photo V. Savchuk). Ryc. 3. Tomares nogelii (Freyer, 1851) i Plagiolepis sp. (fot. V. Savchuk). Pseudophilotes bavius (eVersman, 1832) Flight-period: univoltine, late April/early June. Ecology: chalky-white eggs are laid singly on the buds or on the upper surface of the leaves of Salvia nemorosa L. Pink-and-white or green larvae feed on inflorescences, less keen on the stems and leaves of host plants. Hibernates as a pupa, according to some observations, in leaf litter, near feeding area or attached to the leaves at the base of host plants (hesselBarth et al. 1995). Butterflies willingly visit flowers ofSalvia spp. Interactions with ants: larvae with PCOs and DNO. Presence of tentacles (TO) is not quite reliably documented (Fiedler 1991). For the first time, attending ants were identified as the genus Formica linnaeus, 1758 (Fig. 4). Larvae association with ants is a facultative myrmecophily (Fiedler 1991, 1995, 2006). In the Crimea, degree of myrmecophily of pupae has not been established yet. Habitat: dry habitats of calcareous or stony ground, steppes, hillsides, dry river terraces, ravines covered with steppe vegetation. Distribution: numerous stands in the steppe part of Crimea, the most common on the Kerch Peninsula and Tarchankut Peninsula, where sometimes numerous in the places of occurrence, local and rare in the northern and south-western part of Crimea. 4 Acta ent. siles. 23 (online 018) Bytom, September 23, 2015 Fig. 4. Pseudophilotes bavius (eVersmann, 1832) and Formica sp. (photo V. Savchuk). Ryc. 4. Pseudophilotes bavius (eVersmann, 1832) i Formica sp. (fot. V. Savchuk). Pseudophilotes vicrama (moore, 1865) Flight-period: univoltine, early June/late August. Ecology: chalky-white eggs are laid singly on buds or on developed flowers of different species of Thymus. Pink-and-green larvae feed on inflorescences: buds and developed flowers of host plants. Hibernates as a pupa. Butterflies willingly visit flowers of Thymus spp., occasionally other plants e.g. Cerinthe minor L., Lappula barbata (m. BieB.) gürke or representatives of the genus Haplophyllum a. Juss. Interactions with ants: larvae with PCOs, DNO and TO (Fiedler 1995). In the Crimea, attending ants were identified as Camponotus latreille, 1798 (Fig. 5) for the first time. Larvae association