Illidge's Ant-Blue Butterfly, Acrodipsas illidgei
Problem:
Mangroves,
particularly those on the mainland, are still largely unappreciated habitats.
Their destruction threatens sensitive life cycles like that of the Illidges's
Ant-blue Butterfly and destroys valuable nurseries for fish, crustaceans and
molluscs. The additional value of mangroves as silt-filtering systems and
shoreline stabilisers is now widely acknowledged.
Background information:
The Illidge's Ant-blue
Butterfly has a remarkably complex life cycle which demonstrates how closely
plants and animals can rely on each other in mangrove systems. Female
butterflies lay eggs on the trunks and branches of Grey Mangrove trees that have
colonies of Crematogaster ants. The ants carry newly hatched butterfly larvae
into their nest and there, the ants feed on a sweet substance excreted by the
butterfly larvae. The larvae, however, feed on developing ants! When the adult
butterfly emerges it is covered with fluffy scales that help protect it from
attack by the adult ants as it makes its exit.
Research:
A combination of
private research by butterfly enthusiast Peter Samson and University of
Queensland scientists unravelled the complex relationship between the mature
Grey Mangroves, the Ant-blue Butterfly larvae and Crematogaster ants. The
research also emphasised the need to maintain mangrove systems in the face of
land development and reclamation.
Solution:
Protect mangrove
communities and associated wetlands.
The next species is the Intertidal Trapdoor Spider