Surveying Midwestern Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Communities to Facilitate Successful Karner Blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov) Introductions

Abstract

Mutualisms between ants and butterfly larvae, particularly those in the family Lycaenidae, can greatly enhance the survival of both groups. The Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov; KBB) is an endangered species that has experienced significant range reduction, including extirpation from Minnesota. Current KBB conservation efforts include a plan to introduce KBB to a novel location in Minnesota. Since anttending is known to decrease KBB mortality, ants may play a crucial role in successful introduction efforts. This study sought to assess potential ant-KBB interactions by sampling ant communities at three sites: those with a current KBB population, those with a history of KBB presence, and those proposed for KBB introduction. We found the presence of KBB, both historic and present, to impact the diversity of both total ants and the diversity of ants known to tend KBB larvae. The site for the proposed KBB introduction had lower ant diversity in terms of overall ant composition and for those species known to tend to KBB larvae.