How long does the Large Blue Butterfly (Maculinea arion) live, including its larval stage?
The eggs hatch after some seven to 14 days, depending on the weather. Young larvae feed on thyme flowers for about two weeks during late July and early August. Then, they fall to the ground and are adopted by red ants and taken off to the underground ant nests where they feed on ant grubs. The larva spends 10 months as a predator in the ant nests, then pupates there. The butterflies emerge during the period early-June to mid-July, after some three weeks in the pupal stage. Now here is some extra info if ya need it hope all this helps!! The large blue produces only one generation a year. The adult individuals do not live long. The average lifespan is 5 to 7 days, but many butterflies die before that. Females lay their eggs on the flower buds of thyme, Thymus praecox. The caterpillars spend the first three weeks on the thyme flowers. They feed on it and rapidly develop until the last larval instar L4. Once having reached this instar they stop feeding and fall to the ground. From that poi
