Abstract
Recent studies on the threatened clouded apollo butterfly, Parnassius mnemosyne, have identified suitable habitats on a large scale. More detailed knowledge on specific habitat requirements of ovipositing females is still needed. Some earlier observations suggest that females just drop their eggs without discrimination. This study suggests that females can be rather choosy in their oviposition site selection and that they actively search for oviposition sites with suitable vegetation structure. By identifying factors influencing female oviposition, such as distance to shrub, valuable knowledge is generated for restoration plans considered in the study area. This stresses the importance of proper management of extant habitats in order to prevent local extinctions of P. mnemosyne and it also highlights the need for data on specific oviposition requirements in butterfly conservation.
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Bergström, A. Oviposition site preferences of the threatened butterfly Parnassius mnemosyne – implications for conservation. J Insect Conserv 9, 21–27 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-004-3204-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-004-3204-4