Man releases myxamitosis - kills rabbits .... ants ... butterflies.....

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Large Blue butterfly flutters back from extinction, thanks to a tiny ant

One of the most beautiful butterflies in the world has been successfully reintroduced to Britain 30 years after it became extinct, thanks to a tiny red ant.

 

 

 

 

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent Published: 7:00AM BST 16 Jun 2009

 

 

The large blue butterfly which has been reintroduced to the UK. Photo: PA

The mysterious disappearance of the Large Blue Butterfly across most of northern Europe was originally put down to its popularity among insect collectors.

However a new study into what is described as the most successful insect reintroduction programme in the world has revealed that it is flourishing again thanks to one species of ant.

Scientists said they helped re-establish the butterfly after they realised its life cycle was completely dependent on a species of ant called Myrmica sabuleti.

There are now tens of thousands living in more than 30 colonies across the south west of England

The scientists discovered that the large blue caterpillar hatches on thyme buds and then tricks the ants into believing it is one of their own grubs.

Ants then carry it underground to their nest where it feeds on the ant grubs for 10 months before pupating and emerging as a butterfly.

The Large Blue – which despite its name has a wingspan of just under two inches – was hit by changes in grazing and myxomatosis in rabbits which left grassland too tall and shady for the heat-loving ant.

The discovery by Professor Jeremy Thomas, of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, that the Large Blue only survived in the nests of one species of ant came too late to save it from extinction.

But the evidence he and colleagues gathered that changes to habitat were doing the damage allowed for its successful reintroduction from 1984.

A suitable habitat was restored on 50 former sites, and the Large Blue can now be found on 33 of them in south west England, with two of the largest colonies supporting between 4,000 and 5,000 adults – populations not seen in the UK since the 1950s.

Many of the sites are owned and managed by conservation organisations including the National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts, while Network Rail has also created habitats on railway embankments.

The creation of habitat has allowed large blues – taken from a population in Sweden – to be successfully re-released in the UK and has also benefited other wildlife.

The scientists behind the scheme said the reintroduction showed it was possible to reverse the decline of threatened species – once the reasons for falling numbers were understood.

Sir David Attenborough said: "The restoration of the Large Blue butterfly to Britain is a remarkable success story, illustrating the power of ecological research to reverse damaging environmental changes.

"It is, moreover, a tribute to the dedication of many practical conservationists who have skillfully recreated its specialised habitat in our countryside."

A report on Professor Thomas' work has been published in the journal Science.