common mountain blue species butterfly family found described austria initially classified subspecies european researcher designated separate species found subspecies difficult determine exactly inhabit similarity thought concentrated alps found role brood parasite particular interest unlike brood parasites directly hosts nests colony species chemical trick ants believing larvae ants bring larvae nests feed early turn nest placed iucn red list classified species vulnerable extinction separate species dna appearance extremely similar leading researchers argue differences species variation taxonomy genus genus explaining known clade thought sect groups clade group group group groups divided based alternative strategies host colony ants predatory host ants feed ants strategies derived characteristics group predatory strategy having evolved group strategy having evolved group way groups categorized release certain chemical dorsal organ attract attention host trait prominent ancestors group group closely related species closely related subspecies central south europe major north china mountains appearance noted large blue wings males displaying violet blue shade females displaying blue basal areas interspersed brown spots similar butterflies genus butterfly dark brown small black spots white distinguished close relative broader black margins male extensive blue basal areas females wingspan approximately long habitat resides fairly dry areas lower levels damp meadows trees alpine levels found altitudes meters found globe populations concentrated northern portugal greece western france eastern germany brood discovery brood brood parasite organism organism host raise offspring case particular species discovered brood parasite researcher observed ants bringing larvae nest proposed larvae released chemicals confuse ants believing larvae determined larvae use chemical persuade ants brood furthermore ants distinguish physical differences larvae non brood larvae far similar larvae species larvae live different habitats species observation experimentation researchers found try different species normally ants identify larvae kill larvae differences different allow mimic different species ants explains success mistaken species ensuing mortality rate species social rank host hierarchy larvae infiltrate host brood ascend highest social ranks host hierarchy achieve social acceptance worker ants larvae accomplish mimicking sound queen colony makes colony colony identify chemical signaling social ranks partially determined sound begin mimic sound queen worker ants begin treat queen hand queen treats larvae rivals colony recognizes larvae larvae common functions queen sounds recruit workers smell facilitate oral exchanges food importantly fact distress noises queen causes workers raise guard bolster protection researchers speculate related level interaction host parasite genus different strategies strategy predatory strategy larvae integrated colony attended worker ants larvae predatory species prey ants brood consequently spend life hiding pockets brood nest integration host life phases complete integration colony initial integration integration stages integration brought brood nest integration high social status host society status crucial surviving periods host colony stress food shortage studies shown benefit colony colony colonies encounter period food shortage survive food shortage occur species colony lower social rank species compared social rank colony phenomenon seen times stress hungry compounds attract attention colony ants believing brood compounds mimic non host species societies species results identified killed hand prefers feeds times food shortage periods starvation overall exhibit higher survival rate larvae growth larvae common occurrence exception displays form strategies living growing underground exist fast developing larvae slow developing larvae brood adopts comprise approximately total larvae complete growth following spring emerge adult early summer complete life cycle comprise larvae grow year grow rapidly early second summer remain second winter colonies types ultimately form similar sized growth rates indicate alternative fitness strategies different ways exploit food resources researchers alternative growth strategy evolve ants longer period time slow developing larvae researchers find hypothesis highly unlikely stable strategy rate ants host colony unlikely viable food source years average lifespan longer host colony reaches lifespan years dies loses food source dies developmental rate shows great changing developmental rate response changes environment develops quickly lab scientists warm conditions light exposure affects development abundant food resources thought play development studies shown smaller sized hungary normally end june mid july populations studied laboratories late august led researchers speculate larvae receive adequate food fully develop year act functioning adult unlikely producing season hypothesis supported fact certain researchers claim larvae continuous development prey producing sugar rich worker ants experiment specimens consumed larvae developed quickly despite offering community invariably imposed net loss survival rates workers demonstrating species parasitic stages host colony relationship host plant host grassland plant source nutrition feed flowers developing fruits larger population size flowers seeds plant produces positive link population size frequency plant researchers particularly interested plant endangered result believe requires focusing conservation efforts preserving researchers discovered lay eggs based size leaves location closest colony evidence depending range food plant range ants supported timing lays eggs warm summer season ants likely underground researchers observed females base found nests relationship parasitic wasp ants acts host wasp wasp attempts introduced ants nests adult wasp searches nests responding strongly scent ants species commonly successfully locating nest wasp enters nests contain able enter nest releases chemical causes worker ants attack instead concentrating efforts wasp wasp reaches marks individuals likely survive wasp eggs hatch body newborn offspring feast conflicts classification researchers argue evolved separate species researchers determined species share similar adult morphology dna found variation species variation meaning distinct species furthermore similar methods host act parasitic nest feed ants compared alternative method predation butterflies utilize host test hypothesis researchers examined species utilized host ants far likely researchers found general far likely host nests supported smaller supported lower populations nests supported conservation status studied europe priority conservation status classified vulnerable described world comprehensive inventory lists conservation status plants animals brought iucn attention listed iucn red list threatened species reason categorized vulnerable despite wide distribution decreased years reached extinction country reasons drastic population reduction thought agricultural improvements abandonment extensive management area depends decreases population decreases gallery
Phengaris rebeli