sabuleti ants – none of the other four species of red ants in Britain provide suitable food and conditions for it to survive. The ants only thrive in areas where the grass is just the right height and are dependent on regular grazing by cattle. The decline of the large blue was therefore linked to changes in agricultural practices in the 20th century, which resulted in far less grazing land – as well as more use of pesticides. Nerys Coward, spokeswoman for Butterfly Conservation said that re-introduction of the large blue, using breeding stock from Sweden, was complicated by the need to find sites that fitted all the requirements – thyme, red ants and grazing cattle. She added: “We have also discovered that managing a site for one endangered species is good for others – pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies, tiger beetles and pale heath violets have all benefited.” The re-introduction programme has involved 11 different organisations, co-ordinated by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, based in Dorset. The improbable life of the large blue * July: The large blue butterflies mate Females lay eggs on flowers of wild thyme. * Late August: Eggs hatch and caterpillars begin eating thyme.
The caterpillar waits to encounter a Myrmica sabuleti red ant. When it does it secretes a substance which the ant likes; the ant carries the caterpillar to its nest. * Late August-late May the following year: The caterpillar remains in the nest eating ant grubs and growing Some species fed by the ants themselves During the winter, the caterpillar hibernates. * May-June: The caterpillar turns into a chrysalis, still inside the nest. * July: The adult butterfly emerges from the nest and lives for four to five days.. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be contested by the smallest field in half a century after connections of Mandesha yesterday decided to take the “soft” option. They fear that give underfoot at Longchamp on Sunday might deplete her staying power for a mile and a half against mature colts, and will instead run her over two furlongs less in the Prix de l’Opera.
Not that Alexandrova and possibly Ouija Board will make the company of her own sex especially genial. But the decision will have been eagerly approved by Christophe Soumillon, who expressed misgivings about her stamina after her suave success over the Arc distance in the Prix Vermeille.
Cynics might suggest that he would have taken a different view had he not already ridden Shirocco to beat Hurricane Run and Pride in his own trial, half an hour earlier. The French champion is contracted to ride for the Aga Khan and his family, and would have been obliged to partner Mandesha in the Arc.In fairness, Mandesha had previously shown enough speed to win a Group One over a mile. None the less her trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupr? still represented in the Arc by Pride – confirmed that the race will be Mandesha’s main target next autumn.Though three outsiders still have their hats in the ring, the core of the race has now dwindled to a bare half-dozen. Nobody could quibble with its quality, but a tactical race would not favour Hurricane Run, who has tended to run in snatches this season and dropped right out before pouncing to win it last year.Deep Impact, the Japanese champion, quickened past two lead horses in his final gallop under Yutaka Take yesterday. “He went two lengths clear and I think it was the best work he has done since arriving here,” Take said. “We want to gain the honour of being the first horse and first jockey from outside Europe to win the Arc.
Deep Impact is a world-class horse and I will ride him with that belief. I’ve received encouragement from so many people back in Japan, and want to make their dream come true.”Sixties Icon, the only British runner, must be supplemented today and can now be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who had been loitering around Shirocco.Dettori will be hoping for a better weekend than the last one, having embarrassed himself and the sport with his protests about “team tactics” at Ascot on Saturday. Whatever else might be said, there is no way he should have been exposing his mount on the outside. Certainly it is hard to imagine his deputy at Godolphin, Kerrin McEvoy, committing such a basic tactical solecism – a lynching job in his native Australia.Despite Godolphin’s frugal season, McEvoy has continued to impress and will almost certainly receive overtures from elsewhere during the winter. He leaves for Australia on 14 October to ride Imperial Stride in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and is scheduled to return to Dubai in the new year. But his reserve status is hardly doing justice to his talent, and he may yet face some awkward decisions, whether here or back in Australia. If playing his cards right, he could easily become a championship contender in Britain.Having ridden two winners at Nottingham on Tuesday, he rode another three at Salisbury yesterday – including two for Sir Michael Stoute.
