Egg-laying preferences of the xerophilous ecotype of Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in the Aggtelek National Park
Abstract
The egg-laying preferences of the xerophilous ecotype of Maculinea alcon (= Maculinea rebeli) was studied in the Tohonya valley in the Aggtelek karst region. The reconstruction of the area had started in 2001. It had a favourable effect on the habitat as the number of intact ramets with flowers and the rate of eggs per sprout increased largely compared to the values detected in the ’90s. The number of ramets in the Gentiana sproutcolonies, the height of the ramets and the number of verticils with flowers/flower buds influenced essentially the egg laying preferences of the females. Furthermore, significantly more eggs were found on the adaxial surface of the leaves and on verticils with flowers/flower buds than on other parts of the plant. We could hardly find any eggs on sterile, grazed and infected sprouts. It can be stated that the Tohonya valley population of M. alcon has become stabilised as a consequence of management. The short grass structure of the sward maintained by mowing and grazing proved to be beneficial both for the growth of the sprout colonies and for the Maculinea population, as well.
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