African ant blues

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Quick facts

Project title:

From host plants to host ants: Evolution of phyto-predation in butterflies

ZFMK Project lead:

Dr. Marianne Espeland

Unit:

Lepidoptera

Description

This project studies the life history evolution of African butterflies in the genus Lepidochrysops. Unlike 99% of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), the species in this genus are phyto-predaceous: caterpillars initially feed on flowers, but eventually lose interest in the plant and are carried by ants into the brood chamber of the nest. Here they either eat the brood directly, or are fed mouth-to-mouth like cuckoos for the remainder of their development.

I'm currently inferring the phylogeny of the group and looking into life history evolution and biogeographical patterns

Location

Team

Dr. Marianne Espeland

ZFMK Project lead

Lepidoptera

Svenja Ahlborn

Lepidoptera

External team members

Naomi Pierce, Harvard University

Funding

Financed by the Research Council of Norway from 2011 to 2013. Fieldwork was partially funded by the Putnam Expedition Fund at the Museum of Caomparative Zoology at Harvard University, and The Hintelmann Scientific Award.