Despite
efforts to conserve it, the Large Blue (Maculinea arion)
– our largest and rarest blue butterfly - became
extinct in the British Isles in 1979. The reasons for
this were a complete mystery until Dr Jeremy Thomas carried
out detailed research into the insect’s life-cycle.
He discovered that the butterfly is reliant on one species
of red ant, which carries the caterpillars down into its
nest where they feed on ant larvae and then pupate, only
emerging from the ant nests as fully formed butterflies.
The crux of the matter was that the ant species had declined
when ancient grazing patterns changed; by restoring these
patterns, the Large Blue could be successfully re-introduced.
Only when armed with high quality ecological knowledge
was it possible to restore suitable habitats, a programme
which continues today, and there is still much to be done
to ensure the long-term survival of this species in Britain.
butterfly world
aims to support the continuing large blue conservation
programme.
