Miami Blue

[John Calhoun]

Anne,

Actually, a species of Camponotus ant often tends the larvae of the Miami
Blue.  However, these ants do not appear to be a necessary component of
their life cycle.  Larvae nibble a hole in the side of the pod.  This hole
subsequently allows tending ants access to the larvae.

We also found the newly established C. ammon also tended by ants, Camponotus
planatus, on acacia hostplants.  Again, we have reared the species without
the ants.  Unlike some other butterflies, these species do not spend part of
their life cycle actually within ant colonies.



Best,
John Calhoun



 
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