Why do ants guard holly blues?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
December 25, 2002
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Suggested Reading—>Click here.
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Killer Picks: Wollemi Pine, greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century—>Click here.
Red Petal Alpaca Cardigan, Sirari Seed Necklace, Southwestern Tote—>Click here.
Sheepskin B-3 Flight Jacket, Pathfinder Atomic Watch—>Click here.
In Europe, one of the first butterflies to emerge in the spring is the tiny holly blue (Celastrina argiolus Linnaeus). These butterflies are reported to be the same species called the azure blues in North America. At this time, the 'blues' appear to consist of a number of similar-looking sibling species or subspecies. The blues of North America are undergoing a revision of taxonomy.
Holly blue butterflies are a woodland species. The butterfly's underwing is a pale silvery-gray. When resting, the butterfly holds the wings upright so the underwings are exposed. The color matches the reflection of light off the shiny leaves of two woodland plants, holly (Ilex aquifolium Linnaeus) and ivy (Hedera helix Linnaeus).
Holly blue butterflies are considered common, but their numbers fluctuate wildly over a period of years. It is thought when the holly blue numbers increase, the number of parasitic ichneumon also increases. These wasp relatives eventually almost wipe-out their food source and, of course, themselves.
According to Digby Wood, the light green slug-like caterpillars are defenseless. The caterpillars, vulnerable to ichneumon, enlist the aid of ants. The caterpillars attract and reward the ants for guardianship. The caterpillars secrete sweet 'honeydew' relished by ants. The ants guard their food source against predation. But the ants do not always succeed when numbers of ichneumon are high. (I Got Those Holly Blues, Digby Wood.)
Holly blues are bivoltine, having two generations per year. Holly blues overwinter in the pupal stage, emerging with the first warm days. The overwintering holly blues fed as caterpillars on ivy the previous summer. These adults will congregate around holly, preferentially female hollies, for the spring caterpillars eat both holly flowers and berries.
Guy Padfield has two great photographs of the holly blue butterfly on his European butterfly page. To view his photographs, click on the link:
http://www.guypadfield.com/hollyblue.html
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
dahoon (Ilex cassine Linnaeus) Plant of the Week - November 25, 2002
What's so funny about holly? Weird Plants - December 26, 2002
What could disappear from the earth? Renfield's Garden - January 8, 2003
Are some evergreens insectivorous by proxy? Renfield's Garden - December 26, 2001
Killer Savings Links: Breck's Bulbs -$25 off—>Click here.
Gurney's Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.
Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
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Red Petal Alpaca Cardigan
National Geographic®
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Our toreador-inspired flyaway cardigan is knit in La Paz, Bolivia, using 100% Alpaca fiber, a material that has been part of Andean textile traditions for thousands of years. With embroidered appliqués and leather buttons at the neck, this sophisticated red-and-black cardigan showcases indigenous Bolivian craftsmanship as well as the country's colonial Spanish influence.
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Bolivian Sirari Necklace
National Geographic®
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This bold necklace is handmade using the vivid red-and-black seeds of the tropical sirari tree, gathered after they fall to the floor of the Amazon rain forest.
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Southwestern Wool Travel Tote
National Geographic®
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With a long history of woolmaking, Pendleton Mills traded with Native Americans in the early 20th century, making ceremonial blankets for them.
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Sheepskin B-3 Flight Jacket
National Geographic®
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This authentic B-3 jacket became the military-issued cold-weather flight jacket in 1934, and it is still the warmest and most insulating bomber jacket made.
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Pathfinder Atomic Watch
National Geographic®
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The ultimate in reliability, this Casio Pathfinder watch is ideal for travelers and outdoor adventurers.
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Water-resistant to 300 feet. Face has 1 3/8" diameter. Resin band.
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Wollemi Pine
National Geographic®
Exclusively from National Geographic, this survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years.
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Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area.
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