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WHERE TO FIND RECORDING & CONSERVATION

EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017

Including an updated checklist of

EUROPEAN INTERESTS GROUP Welcome

Welcome to the EIG’s Anniversary Magazine. The first EIG Newsletter was issued in April 2007, Contents and has been published electronically every six months since then. There is a wealth of information in the Newsletters, and apart from the most recent they are available on the EIG website. However 3 Welcome we wonder whether members refer back to electronic issues after their initial browse. So this time we have decided to mark our tenth anniversary by publishing a magazine. We hope it will endure 4-5 The rare Lycaenids of the Peloponnese, by Simon Spencer a bit longer and find a place on members’ bookshelves. 6-7 Tzoumerka National Park, NW , by John Salmon The object of the magazine is to reflect the EIG’s work over the first ten years, and to provide 8-11 , by Nick Greatorex-Davies guidance on where it is possible to see a good proportion of ’s . There are articles on many of the best regions in Europe, arranged geographically in an arc from Greece in 12-15 Conserving the Danube Clouded Yellow in , by Martin Davies the south east to in the south west.

16 -19 Surprising Estonia, by Tony Hoare There is also an up-to-date checklist of European butterfly species which incorporates the latest taxonomic changes. ‘New’ species include the race feisthamelii of and the race 20-23 Scandinavian , by Bernard Watts beckeri of Marsh Fritillary, both attractive taxa found in Spain and and now elevated to 24-27 The – endemics and others, by Marian Thomas full species status.

28-29 - an under-rated butterfly destination, by Mike Prentice The magazine not only provides a steer on where to look for Europe’s butterflies, it also reflects two important roles of EIG, namely surveying, and supporting conservation. For example, EIG survey 30-33 The Heaths ( ) of , by Roger Gibbons work has been the first step towards conserving the Danube Clouded Yellow ( myrmidone)

34-37 Looking for the elusive Lefèbvre’s Ringlet in Romania, and EIG members took part in fieldwork which was the basis for Species in the , by Jude Lock Recovery Plans for endangered endemics in the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain. Both projects are 38-41 Montes Universales, Spain, by Dudley Cheesman reported on in this magazine. We always encourage members to submit their records, and full information on how and where to do so can be found on the country pages of the EIG website 42-43 Sierra Nevada, Spain, by Mike Prentice (www.bc-eig.org.uk). 44-50 Updated Checklist of European Butterfly Species We hope to enthuse you about Europe’s butterflies,

Simon Spencer (Chairman) [email protected]

Nigel Peace (Editor) [email protected] Front cover: Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii), photographed in Andalusia, Spain, by Nigel Peace. Butterflies INEUROPE 3 GREECE GREECE

In 2017 the author and other EIG colleagues will work with Lazaros The rare Lycaenids Pamperis, the author of the Butter- flies of Greece, to survey Mount Taygetos for habitat and record the of the Peloponnese butterflies. It is a wonderful area and in a previous visit 62 species were by Simon Spencer seen on one walk. They will also visit Mount Chelmos to assess the Odd-

The Peloponnese, the large o less than 109 species of The Greek Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris t Acantholimon androsaceum on Mount Chelmos. spot Blue population and see how butterflies have been recorded semiargus helena), which has bright the grazing pressures have changed. peninsula of southern Greece, N above 1500 m on Mount Chelmos orange submarginal lunules, is Habitat plant that is much loved by sheep The Peloponnesian mountains is actually an island as the and sites with more than 80 species not recognised as a separate species At high altitude on the mountains and goats. Many authors have are very rich in wildlife. They are are found in many areas in the Pelo- in the latest revision, nor is the of Mount Chelmos and Mount commented in the past on the changing rapidly as they are being Corinth canal, joining the ponnese. It is particularly notable Taygetos Blue which is now consid- Taygetos there is an unusual habitat overgrazing of Mount Chelmos by abandoned by shepherds after Aegean Sea to the Gulf of for its Lycaenids (33 or 34 species). ered to be a local race of Eros Blue of Acantholimon androsaceum goats and the threat this poses thousands of years, although with One is a Peloponnesian endemic, ( eros menelaos). The which grows in dwarf cushions to the species. Sainfoin uses the Greece’s economic problems this Corinth, separates it from the the Odd-spot Blue (Turanana tayget- Eastern Brown Argus (Kretania amongst the rocks. It is able to protection of spiny plants such as trend may be reversing. In recent ica), which is now recognised to be eurypilus), another Asiatic species, withstand extreme desiccation and Astralagus thracicus parnassi to years there have been devastating rest of Greece. It has a high a different species from the similar is also found in its most westerly high winds as well as browsing survive and must have coexisted fires as abandoned pastures that diversity of butterflies and species found further east in . site on Mount Taygetos in the goats. It is the larval food-plant of with sheep and goats throughout have reverted to scrub catch alight Several others have their Euro- south of the Peloponnese, but both Fiery Copper and Odd-spot history. in the summer heat. • along with the Alps and the pean range mostly confined to also occurs on Samos. The Grecian Blue which occur together in the Pyrenees is one of the areas the Peloponnese. These include the Copper ( ottomana) which is few hectares where the habitat is EIG surveys Simon Spencer Chelmos Blue (Polyommatus iphige- confined to the and Turkey found. These species are two of the EIG surveyed Mount Chelmos in [email protected] of Europe with the highest nia), the Pontic Blue (Neolysandra is quite widespread in the Pelopon- few European species vulnerable 2008 targeting Odd-spot Blue and Photos by John Salmon (Chelmos coelestina), which is also found nese. The very local Bavius Blue to collectors who regularly visit the also Chelmos Blue. Both species were Blue and A. androsaceum) and species diversity. in Attica, and the Fiery Copper (Pseudophilotes bavius), which flies Chelmos site which is now in a successfully recorded although the Nigel Peace. (Lycaena thetis), which is also found earlier in the year, can be found National Park. latter was hard to find. Grazing by This is a summary and update of an on the other side of the Gulf of on some of the Peloponnesian The Chelmos Blue feeds as a goats had recently reduced but article which appeared in the first

Corinth. mountains. on Sainfoin ( alba), a grazing by cattle had increased. EIG Newsletter in April 2007.

t t t

t Odd-spot Blue (Turanana taygetica) Chelmos Blue (Polyommatus iphigenia) Taygetos Blue (Polyommatus eros menelaos) Grecian Copper (Lycaena ottomana)

4 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 5 GREECE GREECE

Tzoumerka National Park, NW Greece

by John Salmon

t t t Kryakouras and Tzoumerka Plaka Bridge over the River Arachthos. Twin-spot Fritillary (Brenthis hecate) from south of Prodromos. lary (Argynnis paphia), Lesser Spot- Hesperiidae ted Fritillary ( trivia) and 12 species of were seen, (M. athalia) were the not all easy to identify! Noteworthy most numerous species. records included Persian Skipper ( phlomidis) and Yellow- Banded Skipper ( sidae), with Russian Heath (Coenonympha lean-

its striking underside. der) was at three Park sites, and t Balkan Heath (C. orientalis) was a

Russian Heath EIG members have recently he Park has no species endemic Papilionidae t good record at the Katara Pass Blue Argus ( anteros) (Coenonympha leander) to the area; but there is a wide The spectacular Apollo ( (outside the Park). Pearly Heath surveyed the Lakmos/Tzoumerka T range of species in a magnificent, apollo) was seen only on the (C. arcania) and Small Heath (C. National Park in Northwest and mainly unspoilt, area of moun- last day of our trip in July 2014, pamphilus) were both common in tains and rivers. Metsovo is an when the season was late; but its Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) Apart from the ever-present Painted July. Northern Wall Brown (Lasiom- Greece, with the invaluable excellent centre; Syrrako, Agnanta relative the Clouded Apollo (Par- rivalled the Common Blue (Poly- Lady (Vanessa cardui), we saw many mata petropolitana) was another help of the Park’s conservation and Athamania give access to more nassius mnemosyne) was quite ommatus icarus) as the most fre- handsome Southern White Admirals species found only in the Katara distant parts. numerous in early June 2016. We quent species. Many Whites (Pieris (Limenitis reducta), but no White Pass. We recorded only two Ringlets officer Rika Bisa and Lazaros We saw 105 species (nearly half saw neither Southern Festoon spp.) were also common. Among Admirals (L. camilla). Southern Com- - Woodland Ringlet ( medusa), the Greek list), in three visits, in early (Zerynthia polyxena) nor Eastern the more interesting records were mas (Polygonia egea) were fewer which appeared in both June and Pamperis, author of the splendid July 2014 and early June 2015 & Festoon (Zerynthia cerisy). One Mountain and Southern Small than Commas (P. c-album). Camber- July, and Ottoman The Butterflies of Greece 2016. Others may well occur later – Southern Swallowtail (Papilio Whites (Pieris ergane, P. mannii) and well Beauties (Nymphalis antiopa) (E. ottomana) at one site in 2014. or indeed earlier. Shortage of space alexanor) was seen, and Scarce Greek and Berger’s Clouded Yellows and Large Tortoiseshells (N. poly- Our final site in July 2014 was (2nd edition 2009). prevents a full account of our records, Swallowtail ( podalirius) (C. aurorina, C. alfacariensis). chloros) were occasional. Despite near the remarkable bridge of but some highlights are as follows. was common, especially in July. the presence of suitable habitat, Plaka, which was sadly washed we found none of the Greek Purple away in early 2015 by heavy winter No less than 32 species were Emperors (Apatura metis, ilia and waters; it is expected that it will recorded. Zephyr Blues (Kretania iris) – perhaps only because the eventually be rebuilt. • sephirus) often mud-puddled on season was late in 2014. We July afternoons, Mazarine Blues caught two brief glimpses of John Salmon (Cyaniris semirargus) were abun- the magnificent Two-Tailed Pasha [email protected] dant in 2015, and other highlights (Charaxes jasius). Photos by John Salmon except recorded quite commonly included Among 14 species of fritillary, Blue Argus by Nigel Peace. Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dory- my personal favourite was the fresh

las), Amanda’s Blue (P. amandus), Twin-spot Fritillary (Brenthis hecate) This is a short summary of articles t

Yellow-Banded Skipper (Pyrgus sidae) t Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) and Blue Argus (Aricia anteros). shown above. Silver-washed Fritil- in EIG 16,18 & 20.

6 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 7 BULGARIA BULGARIA

Bulgaria by Nick Greatorex-Davies

I first led a butterfly ulgaria is a relatively small Although agriculture has intensi- Bmountainous country (bigger fied there are still areas where tra- tour to Bulgaria in 2003. than Scotland, smaller than Eng- ditional farming methods are I have had the privilege land) and it has a declining human practiced and species-rich grass- population, currently a little over land habitats have been main- of leading one or more seven million. It is rich in wildlife tained. However many of these are and wild places with nearly 34% under considerable threat due to butterfly (and moth) of the country designated under abandonment and the subsequent

tours there for the the Natura 2000 network. This take-over by scrub. The country is t

includes 50 Prime Butterfly Areas. about 40% forested and this is Nicholl’s Ringlet (Erebia rhodopensis) t Bosnian Blue (Plebejus dardanus) British-Bulgarian Society It is possible to walk almost any- likely to increase. almost every year since. where in rural areas without Bulgaria is one of the butterfly Mountains which can both be found on Rila, nephohiptamenos) and at slightly restriction, taking care of course hotspots of Europe. 216 butterfly Substantial parts of the country are Pirin and the highest parts of lower levels the Grecian Anomalous not to trample crops which are an species have been reliably recorded, mountainous - over 27% of the the Stara Planina; Blue (P. aroaniensis). In the non-cal- important part of the livelihood of of which about 45 species are land area is over 600m, more than (E. melas) is more widespread careous parts of Rila, Pirin and The Pirin Mountains. t local subsistence farmers. more or less restricted in Europe to 12% over 1000m. The Rila and occurring on high rocky slopes, Osogovska Planina can be found Eastern Europe. Seven of these are Pirin Mountains in the south-west crests and screes. Other alpine another Balkan endemic, Balkan endemic to the Balkan Peninsula both rise to over 2900m. Rila hosts species include the beautiful Cyn- Clouded Yellow (Colias caucasica), and a further 17 only occur there the highest peak in the Balkans thia’s Fritillary (Euphydryas cynthia) which occurs on open slopes in Europe. (Musala 2925m). To the east of (widespread on Rila and Pirin), where its foodplant the broom- June and July are the peak these lie the western and eastern Shepherd’s Fritillary ( pales), like Chamaecytisus absinthioides months. Generally on a 12 day tour Rhodopi mountains which occupy Balkan Fritillary (B. graeca) grows in abundance. in July one can expect to see be- about a seventh of Bulgaria’s land (usually at lower altitudes than A good of species can tween 130 and 140 species. Cer- area. The Stara Planina or Balkan Shepherd’s Fritillary), Dusky Griz- typically be found along forest tain sites can produce a total of 80 Mountains run as a spine across the zled Skipper (Pyrgus cacaliae), and tracks and in flowery glades in the or more species in a day! Some- country, north of the centre, from on the marble limestone of Pirin, mountains. These include Clouded times butterflies occur in large east to west rising to over 2300m Alpine (P. an- Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne), numbers, for example some wood- in the central part. dromedae). Balkan Copper (Lycaena candens), land clearings may be teeming with Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi) fritillaries, sometimes numbering in Alpine zone Sub-alpine and Montane zones (especially on tracks, often along their thousands with 10 or more A variety of alpine butterflies On some of the high marble with Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)), species present. I have seen Black- occupy the highest parts of the limestone peaks of central Pirin several Ringlets, especially Wood- veined Whites (Aporia crataegi) so mountains. Fourteen species of and on Alibotush at around 2000m land Ringlet (), and numerous that they appeared as Ringlet (Erebia spp.) occur in can be found the Bosnian Blue other satyrines such as Eastern Large large flakes of snow everywhere Bulgaria, and 13 of these can be (Plebejus dardanus). This species is Heath (Coenonympha rhodopensis). one looked. In hot dry weather but- found at various levels in the Rila restricted in Europe to a few terflies can be found in groups, Mountains. In the alpine zone marble peaks in the Balkans. Also Forested foothills and into the ‘puddling’ on tracks, damp river can be found two near endemics, high in the limestone can be found Montane zone beds etc., sometimes in hundreds Bulgarian Ringlet (E. orientalis) and two Balkan endemics, Higgin’s Again a wide range of species can with many species present. Nicholl’s Ringlet (E. rhodopensis), Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus be found here, but worth particular

8 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 9 BULGARIA BULGARIA

mention are Common Glider (Neptis t Eastern Festoon sappho) and Hungarian Glider (N. (Zerynthia cerisy) rivularis), which are widespread but rarely common. The Russian Heath Willow-lined rivers and valleys (Coenonympha leander) is also The Freyer’s Purple Emperor (Ap- widespread but very local, though atura metis) is widespread and it appears to be more common in often frequent in these habitats. northwest and west Bulgaria. The Like other purple emperors it Lesser Lattice Brown (Kirinia often comes down onto tracks or

Common Glider t climene), another species with a dry river beds. The (Neptis sappho) very restricted distribution in south- (Lycaena dispar) is widespread in

east Europe, occurs sporadically in Bulgaria and is often found in central west Bulgaria. t damp habitats near rivers, as is Spinose Skipper the Provencal Short-tailed Blue ( cribrellum) Calcareous rocks, especially (). Also in this habi- karst and marble limestone tat the widespread Southern and There are many calcareous hills and that occur in Bulgaria, 17 of them Eastern Festoons (Zerynthia polyx- mountains in Bulgaria, present in occur solely or usually on calcareous ena and Z. cerisy) may be frequent or adjacent to most of the high terrain. A few of the rarer species or common. mountain ranges. Pirin’s highest have already been mentioned in peak Vihren (2914m) is itself marble the previous section. Another rare Miscellaneous others limestone. These tend to provide the Balkan endemic, Kolev’s Anomalous Finally mention should be made richest habitats for butterflies. At Blue (Polyommatus orphicus) occurs of two other butterfly species. In moderately high altitudes the Apollo only in the western Rhodopi the north-east of Bulgaria in the (Parnassius apollo) can be found mountains, in a very restricted area. area known as the Ludogorie is The Arda River in the eastern t cruising low over the terrain, some- Other “calcareous blues” include a stronghold for the Scarce Fritillary Rhodopi mountains. times in numbers. Of the 42 “blues” the Blue Argus (Aricia anteros) and (Euphydryas maturna), which is

Zephyr Blue Kretania sephirus the ( ). t quite widespread in the area and In the south-west of Bulgaria Freyer’s Purple Emperor (Apatura metis) relatively easy to find. Freyer’s Fritil- where south Pirin meets with lary (Melitaea arduinna) has a very Alibotush several interesting species Hot rocky hills, gorges and duponcheli). Other species include restricted distribution in south-east occur on the rocky marble slopes. river valleys Grecian Copper (Lycaena ottomana), Europe, but it is widespread in They include Eastern Greenish These are frequent habitats in many Little Tiger Blue (Tarucus balkanicus), north-west Bulgaria and sometimes Black-tip ( penia), Gruner’s parts of Bulgaria mostly south of Balkan Marbled White (Melanargia the commonest fritillary on the Orange-tip ( gruneri) the Stara Planina and particularly larissa), Freyer’s Grayling ( wing. It also occurs along the Black and Dil’s Grayling (Pseudochazara in the south – for example the fatua), Lattice Brown (Kirinia roxe- Sea Coast in south-east Bulgaria. • orestes), a very rare Balkan endemic Struma valley, south of and includ- lana) and with a very restricted range. Eastern ing Kresna Gorge, and parts of the (Pyrgus cinarae). Nick Greatorex-Davies Greenish Black-tip is however more eastern Rhodopi mountains, espe- Several species occur only in [email protected] easily found over the border in cially in the Arda River valley. Many the Struma valley, some reaching All photos by the author. Northern Greece. species are found here including as far as Kresna Gorge. These include I cannot leave this section without some notable Pierids - Small Bath Powdered Brimstone (Gonepterix A much fuller account of the mentioning the Spinose Skipper White (Pontia chloridice), Kruper’s farinosa), White-banded Grayling butterflies of Bulgaria can be found (Muschampia cribrellum), recently Small White (Pieris krueperi) on the (Pseudochazara amalthea), and a on the BC-EIG country pages at re-discovered in Bulgaria, in the karst barer steeper slopes and cliffs, and number of skippers including Inky http://www.bc-eig.org.uk/coun- area of the Western Stara Planina. Eastern Wood White (Leptidea Skipper (Erynnis marloyi). tries.html#bulgaria.

10 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 11 ROMANIA

ROMANIA t Danube Clouded Yellow Conserving the (Colias myrmidone), female

Larval food plant Danube Clouded Most of the eggs we found appeared to be freshly laid, always on Chamaecytisus species. Yellow in Romania The plants in the Gheorgheni area appeared to be Chamaecytisus by Martin Davies triflorus. However at least two other different species of Chamae- cytisus were noted but identifica- t Danube Clouded Yellow tion to specific level is challenging. (Colias myrmidone), male Most of the broom plants were in full flower in May, but were in seed Working out how to make such a we attempted to visit as many on both trips, with some 40+ adults in July/August. Danube Clouded plan effective on the ground is chal- known sites as possible in these noted in 3 days in May but an Yellow lay their eggs only on the lenging however and needs a care- two areas. Danube Clouded Yellow amazing 485+ on 7 days in August; younger and re-sprouting shoots, fully co-ordinated approach. is bivoltine in Romania and we it seems that the second brood is never the older branches. The eggs therefore made trips in May and very much more numerous than the are usually positioned within 3-10 Establishing a baseline, 2014 August to coincide with the flight first. In August, we observed eggs cms of the tip of the young shoots EIG supported work to gather data times of the two broods. In August being laid on shoots of the larval which unfortunately makes them on the species’ current status in the we were joined by two other EIG food plant, Chamaecytisus (broom) very susceptible to damage from key Romanian sites. In 2014 EIG members - Simon Spencer and species, and we also searched for grazing. helped fund a student, Robert Kevin Tolhurst. By coincidence, an- eggs, locating at least 40 during Waltz, supervised by Matthias other EIG member Dave Plowman our 7 days in August. We gathered Local agricultural systems Dolek and Safian Szabolcs, to also separately visited the Gheo- GPS fixes and habitat data for all The agricultural system in the survey some of the Romanian sites rgheni area in August 2015 and the locations where we saw adults Apuseni mountains is largely low- in the Gheorgheni area. Matthias sent us his sightings. or found eggs, using data protocols intensity grazing, with small mixed Dolek was supported by ANL, the Mike and I spent one week in Ro- proposed by Matthias Dolek. herds of cattle, goats and horses, Bavarian Academy for Nature Con- mania in May reconnoitring the servation and Landscape Manage- sites for more intensive efforts The Danube Clouded Yellow t has apparently now disappeared ment. This fieldwork provided an when we returned to the same Icompletely from , Bulgaria, invaluable baseline reference. areas in August. On both visits, we (Colias myrmidone) once Czech Republic, , , searched the two key areas where occurred across a range of Latvia, Lithuania and . The Searches in 2015 the butterfly had been seen in only known current or recent Mike Prentice and I also gathered recent years – in the Apuseni countries in eastern and records in Europe come from two together other published and mountains west of Cluj and then sites in , a few local areas in unpublished data from various further east in the hills north of but has Slovakia and Belarus and two areas sources regarding sightings in the Gheorgheni and Lazarea. Adult everywhere been in of Romania. A European Action Apuseni and Gheorgheni areas. We Danube Clouded Yellows were seen Plan to conserve the species was were helped in particular by Safian rapid decline. compiled by Pavel Marhoul and Szabolcs, Csaba Vizauer, Levi

Matthias Dolek and has now been Szekely, Andrei Crisan, Paul Kirk- Chamaecytisus species, t adopted by the European Union. land and Vlad Dinca. Then in 2015 probably C. triflorus.

12 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 13 ROMANIA

ROMANIA

Yellow in the Gheorgheni area had land edge situations as well as in the and F Pacurar, which helped further recently been planted with young open and Matthias Dolek fieldwork and established good Sitka Spruce saplings across the has commented that it should liaison with the local farming entire hillside, augmented with perhaps be considered as a species communities. A trip by another EIG Sycamore and Larch saplings in the of light woodland. However, the member, Mike Williams, in 2016 gullies. Such afforestation was extent to which the butterfly is also investigated Danube Clouded focussed on the steeper slopes of able to hang on within small Yellow sites in Belarus and found little or no value for grazing, but it open patches within a more heavily several colonies. is these same areas that are of forested landscape is unknown. highest value for the butterfly. Future Plans Good numbers of Danube Clouded Rapid progress In mid August 2017 several of us Yellow were seen on some of the We collated all the data from our plan to explore areas of possibly suit- recently afforested slopes. However, 2015 fieldwork and, at their able habitat in Bulgaria, a country this is false comfort. Whilst the request, sent it through to our con- from where the species supposedly butterfly might seem even to bene- tacts in the Romanian government. disappeared many years ago (but

t Egg of Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone) fit in the short-term through the They were in the process of defin- could just be hanging on some- ing new areas for Natura 2000 where). designation to help protect the An important new project is Danube Clouded Yellow and so planned in Romania for 2017-2019, greatly welcomed our data. We hopefully with financial support expected the designation process to from the German Umweltbundesamt be long and drawn-out. Imagine (Federal Environment Agency). If this our amazement therefore when we funding is secured, EIG has commit- were informed just three months ted to provide some matched later that four new designated sites funding. The project will include had been officially approved using additional field work on the our information, with two of them of Danube Clouded Yellow, close based largely on the data we had contact with local administration and sent through! This was a hugely land-owners and land-users, and gratifying result and just goes to provide suggestions for management

show what can be done if we focus plans of the Natura 2000 sites, based t

t Danube Clouded Yellow tended by a few herders. The hay- In part of the Apuseni that we Low-intensity grazing in the on collecting the right information on a cooperative approach and habitat – hill-slope fields are often cut by hand scythe visited in May, the scrub was being Apuseni Mountains: good manage- and put it into the right hands. hopefully acceptance by land-users with flowering and gathered with hay rakes by the cleared by hand with a team of ment in a good site for Danube However, we realised that collec- and owners. Designation of the key Chamaecytisus families working together, produc- local people cutting the individual Clouded Yellow. tively we all needed to gain a much sites is one thing, but only when the species. ing characteristic small domed hay small saplings, presumably to better understanding of how the future management of these areas is stacks. The Chamaecytisus itself is maintain the openness of the area exclusion of grazing to landscapes are currently owned and secured can we reasonably hope to highly susceptible to grazing pres- for the grazing animals. However in protect the young trees, thus allow- farmed, and the economic drivers safeguard the last few remaining pop- sure and mainly now remains only the Gheorgheni area in particular, ing good growth of broom, the that are either supporting the ulations of this beautiful yet endan- on the steeper slopes, less accessi- some parts were subject to much broom of course will eventually be existing system or bringing pres- gered butterfly for the long-term. • ble to the cattle. It also occurs in the more intensive sheep or cattle shaded out and the area become sures for change. In 2016 EIG com- edge of the surrounding woodland, grazing and on the shallower slopes unsuitable as soon as the Sitka and mitted some funding to support Martin Davies growing in amongst the Birch and some of the fields appeared to have Sycamore grow past thicket stage. Matthias Dolek and Jacqueline [email protected] Aspen trees and scrub which has a been re-seeded. In some situations, it appeared Loos, and their work with Czaba All photographs by Martin Davies. tendency to invade the Alarmingly, some of the currently that maybe the broom and the Vizaeur and Romanian colleagues I This is an updated version of the areas unless kept in check. best sites for Danube Clouded butterfly naturally occur in wood- Goia, A Kastal, H Hedrich, L Rakosy report in EIG 18.

14 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 15 ESTONIA ESTONIA

Surprising Estonia

by Tony Hoare

t Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)

on the list with which Adrian sup- plied us, notably the Poplar Admiral

(Limenitis populi), Pallas’s Fritillary t

(Argynnis laodice) and Scarce Fritil- t Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna) Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion) lary (Euphydryas maturna) together with a variety of other northern butterfly on our first stop, what a (Hemaris fuciformis) nectaring at my special wish, the Scarce Heath. Fritillaries, the Yellow-legged Tor- fantastic start! the abundant flowers along the I had feared that we might be too toiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas), The others had already seen forest track. Further stops provided late for the butterfly and so it the Woodland Brown (Lopinga both Poplar Admiral and Woodland us with ample chances to photo- proved – the Chestnut Heath was achine) and a species that has Brown and so I was very keen to graph Lesser Marbled Fritillary abundant and we found a mated long eluded me, the Blue get going next day. We drove to (Brenthis ino), Heath Fritillary (Meli- pair of Mazarine Blues (Cyaniris (Plebejus optilete). a site new to the others which taea athalia), Chestnut Heath semiargus) but no Scarce Heath. We was known to have both species (Coenonympha glycerion) and both spent that night and the next in an Ever since I can remember will admit however that I knew Offshore on Saaremaa and the Woodland Brown soon Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hip- immaculately kept holiday house almost nothing of Estonia except I had to miss the first two days of made its appearance but proved pothoe) and Large Copper (L. dis- just outside the little town of Tori I have wanted to see the I for its location on the Eastern shore the trip but arranged to meet very difficult to photograph as it par). Chestnut Heath and Lesser in the province of Pärnumaa, to Scarce Heath (Coenonympha of the Baltic and was somewhat the others on Saaremaa, Estonia’s always stopped flying under Marbled Fritillary were to become the south-west of the country, sceptical as to what else we might largest off-shore island. I was met cover. A number of White Admirals familiar butterflies and were known for its horses. On both hero), one of Western see. On looking it up I discovered at the bus station and we set off in (Limenitis camilla) flew down the widespread while we were in mornings we were entertained by Europe’s rarest butterflies. that I was right about its location the minibus towards the manor track raising hopes of Poplar Estonia. Towards the end of the day a pre-breakfast visit from the on the south side of the Gulf of house that was our accommoda- Admiral but we saw none of that the others agreed to make another Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell which So when my friend Adrian Finland, situated uneasily just to the tion. On the way there we stopped butterfly. We did see numbers of try for Poplar Admiral and we were gave us a keen appetite! west of St Petersburg. This implied in a woodland to have a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk Moths at last successful, giving me my We started the next day with a Hoskins, who has been that it had very cold winters by our quick look at some Mulleins to see second life butterfly of the trip. walk through some woods where, responsible for most of my standards and that it would be light if we could find any larvae of the to my joy and relief, we found nearly all night at the time of our Mullein Moth (Cucullia verbasci). Tori, south-west Estonia a couple of Scarce Fritillaries for finest butterfly experiences, visit in early July. It is a small country Despite the late hour there was We left Saaremaa for the mainland everyone to see and photograph. announced that he was but its one and a quarter million still some butterfly activity, mostly and once there we visited a wood- My joy was even greater when we inhabitants, who speak a language Black-veined Whites (Aporia crataegi) land site to look for Arran Brown found a magnificent male Large going to Estonia to see the closely allied to Finnish, live mainly but I was astonished suddenly () which provided us Copper as well, together with a species I did not hesitate to in the towns, leaving plenty of to come across a Scarce Fritillary. with our first sightings of Wood Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) which room for extensive forests. It also I called the others over and made White (Leptidea sinapis) and Gera- posed helpfully on the ground sign up for the trip. appeared to be pretty flat and to a dash for my camera which was nium Argus (Aricia eumedon) but and Titania’s Fritillary (Boloria have lots of . As well as still packed for travelling but the only fleeting possible glimpses of titania) as well. The afternoon was the Scarce Heath there were a butterfly had flown before the our target through the trees. Then spent in a completely different

number of other desirable species others could get a good view. A life t Estonian forestry track. it was on to a site known to have habitat, among the sand dunes of

16 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 17 ESTONIA ESTONIA t Rannametsa and the Tolkuse Lokko Talu farmhouse in eastern Tolkuse raised bog. bog, where we went looking for Estonia, stopping in woods on the Moorland Clouded Yellow (Colias way. For two days we were regally Weaver’s Fritillary (), and palaeno) and Cranberry Blue. How- entertained with an abundance of the Large Blue again but the ever all the blues that we found Purple Emperors and Lesser Purple absolute star of the show was proved to be Silver-studded Blues Emperors (Apatura ilia) flying along Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alci- (Plebejus argus) and we saw no the forest tracks and stopping to phron) which in this location Clouded Yellows of any kind. The feed on droppings or carrion. We had such a heavy purple suffusion afternoon was not wasted as we must have seen about twenty or that the underlying copper was saw a lovely Pool Frog (Pelophylax thirty on the ground. We also had barely visible. Another item that lessonae) which posed most oblig- good sightings of the very charis- caught our attention was the ingly beside our path. matic Large Chequered Skipper caterpillar of the Alder Moth (Heteropterus morpheus) with its (Acronicta alni) with its extraordi- Eastern Estonia utterly distinctive dipping flight. nary filamentous appendages. t Lesser Purple Emperor After our two nights in Tori we We even saw the Moorland Clouded (Apatura ilia) moved on to our final location, Laeva forestry Yellow at last but only as a fly-by. Our second day in the woods of Laeva forestry brought the Yellow- A memorable trip We never did see the Scarce Heath,

t Purple-shot Copper the butterfly that had brought me (Lycaena alciphron) to Estonia and I only saw three species that were entirely new to t Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell me, so why was the trip as memo- (Nymphalis xanthomelas) rable as it was? Firstly we were very lucky with the weather, which was afternoon of the second day in the sunny throughout, secondly the woods he took us to a further site excellence of our local guides, who which was alive with Argynnis were very knowledgeable about Fritillaries and I saw my third life the butterflies and their where- butterfly of the trip that afternoon, abouts, thirdly the high standard of Pallas’s Fritillary. our accommodation where all our food was home cooked and of a Eastern border very good quality. But above all it

Large Chequered Skipper t legged Tortoiseshell to the ground, Having started the trip in the was the country itself with its (Heteropterus morpheus) as well as further photo calls with western islands we finished on the abundance of flowers, wildlife and Scarce Fritillary, White Admiral and eastern border, very close to . butterflies that give the butterfly Large Chequered Skipper and a A transect has been walked in the photographer so many opportuni- couple of lovely Scarlet Tiger Moths nature reserve of the Piusa caves for ties. It's a surprising place, Estonia, (Callimorpha dominula). It was in some time and Andro hoped to show and I am so pleased that I went. • these woods that our guide Andro’s us some of the local specialities. special knowledge as a worker in He was spectacularly successful! Tony Hoare was so valuable as We saw five of the smaller Fritillar- [email protected] there are miles and miles of forest ies, Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea All photos by Tony Hoare. tracks and many, many hectares of phoebe), Glanville Fritillary (M. woods but he knew just where the cinxia), Heath Fritillary, Queen of This is a shortened version of an good spots were. During the Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) and article in EIG 16.

18 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 19 ARCTIC

SCANDINAVIAN ARCTIC

Scandinavian Arctic by Bernard Watts

t Open tundra near Alta. t

t Northern Clouded Yellow () Arctic Fritillary (Boloria chariclea) Butterflies I was amazed when I first learned that there are sixteen butterfly species that can only be found in Europe in the Arctic. I had thought that inhospitable climate and habitat would make butterflies scarce – at best! On reflection, however, I realised that the short, cool summers and harsh habitat in the Arctic at low altitude are like those in the Central Alpine Chain at high altitude. And,

of course, many specialised species t

are known there, so why not in the t Polar Fritillary (Boloria polaris) Dusky-winged Fritillary (Boloria improba) Arctic too? Thus it is the case that several current true northern species Arctic Woodland Ringlet (Erebia open slopes Scandinavia - here treated as f this, about 500 km lies north species or sibling species are found spread into Arctic Scandinavia polaris), former of Northern Glandon Blue (my name) of the Arctic Circle, which itself in both biotopes, but do not fly in via western Russia and Finland Woodland Ringlet (E. medusa) (Argiades aquilo), rocky outcrops being and O is a little north of the northern coast the intervening country of northern from refugia in Asia or the Middle Dewy Ringlet () Arctic Fritillary (Boloria (exC.) plus the narrow intrusion of of the Gulf of Bothnia where Europe, north and south of the East. Northern Wall Brown (Lasiommata chariclea), open tundra or mountains Sweden meets Finland. There is a Baltic Sea. petropolitana), throughout Polar Fritillary (Boloria (exC.) Finland in the far north spine of mountains in the west along It is, therefore, tempting to imag- Sibling Species Scandinavia polaris), open tundra or mountains between them - is about 2000 much of the length of Scandinavia. ine that as the last ice-age receded, The following are found in Arctic (Pyrgus Dusky-winged Fritillary (Boloria The large range of latitude and cold-loving species migrated from Scandinavia (some also further andromeda). (exC.) improba), open tundra or km long from the southern altitude creates great climatic and lowland regions of Europe upwards south in Scandinavia) and in the mountains habitat diversity: gentle farmland in in the Central Alps and northwards mountains of southern Europe: Arctic species Frejya’s Fritillary (Boloria (exC.) coast of Sweden on the Baltic the south and much of the central to the Arctic. However, although Mountain Fritillary (Boloria The following are restricted to freija), sheltered bogs or nearby Sea to the Northern coast of part away from the mountains, this may be true in some cases, it is napaea), only in mountains Arctic Scandinavia and, in some open slopes with lakes and coniferous forest, to a doubtful explanation for those Thor’s Fritillary (Boloria (exClos- cases, farther south in Scandinavia: Frigga’s Fritillary (Boloria (exC.) Norway on the Barents Sea. bleak tundra in the far north with sixteen species not found elsewhere siana) thore), distinctive subspecies Northern Clouded Yellow (Colias frigga), bogs Birch trees in the lowland and in in Europe. Norse Grayling ( norna), hecla), open tundra or mountains Lapland Fritillary (Euphydryas sheltered gullies. Everywhere, bogs A more likely scenario is less genetically similar to Alpine Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow (Colias iduna), sheltered bogs or nearby are common. parochial: probably many of the Grayling (O. glacialis) nastes), sheltered bogs or nearby open slopes

20 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 21 ARCTIC

SCANDINAVIAN ARCTIC

Arctic Grayling (Oeneis bore), open There is accommodation in the north of Kiruna. If, as is likely, tundra or mountains Åbisko, but it is not inconvenient to you are driving from Kiruna, you Norse Grayling (Oeneis norna), stay in Kiruna and do the drive can take the coastal road from bogs or nearby open slopes, often to Åbisko each day – the chair lift Narvik along the Norwegian coast, in mountains doesn’t start until 0930 and but it is better to take the more Baltic Grayling (Oeneis jutta), although it may be light all night direct route northward across an sheltered bogs, southward to one needs the sun to rise a little arm of Finland and then onward central region higher in the sky before looking for across Finnmark, the bleak north- Arctic Ringlet (Erebia disa), boggy butterflies. Arctic species fly, like ern region of Norway. At Alta on areas in mountains alpine species, when the sun the coast the climate and habitat Lapland Ringlet (Erebia embla), shines regardless of temperature, are ameliorated by the Gulf Stream. lowland bogs, usually among trees but disappear when it stops. The most notable place is on and Arctic Woodland Ringlet (Erebia To get to Kiruna, it is best to take around Mt Grønnåsen, near the polaris), lowland woods a late flight to Stockholm from hamlet of Gargia a little inland from Northern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus Britain, stay overnight in a nearby Alta. Here there is true tundra at Arctic Grayling t centaureae), bogs, southward to hotel and then take an early morn- altitudes of no more than about (Oeneis bore) central region. ing flight to Kiruna and pick up a 350 metres at most, open and

hire car. You can usually get in quite exposed. In this respect it is similar t a decent day’s butterflying on the to the habitat at higher altitude on Sheltered gully below open day you arrive, including Åbisko, Mt Njulla in Sweden. Melted snow tundra, near Alta. though the bogs etc. around Kiruna runs off in small valleys and gullies, and road access make Mt Njulla a are rewarding too. It’s also worth where the shelter lets them become favourite place to look for them. driving to Gällivare, stopping off en nice and warm on sunny days, and Numerous bogs around the village route and, in particular, looking the vegetation is relatively verdant, add to the range of species found near the bogs within 10 km of with Birch trees not far off normal in this one location. The Kungsle- Gällivare by the road eastward to height. The higher, open tundra is den, a great long-distance path, Luleå. rarely so warm, but it is there that starts southward in Åbisko. It is several Arctic species fly and it only worth taking this path for the sight Bogs needs the sun to come out for of the river surging through rocky Bogs are very treacherous. Once I them to appear. Open bogs lie

Flora on south-facing slope, t gorges and because after a kilome- was photographing a Large Heath among the trees at lower altitude open tundra near Alta. tre or two in Birch woodland with () on a bog and and they too are very good for the river to the right one comes having been still for a minute or so other butterfly species. ExClossiana Species most remarkable bias towards across an open bog on the left. realised I had sunk nearly to my Good and entirely different habi- Current PC (pure cladistic) northern habitats. Most of the bog species fly here. knees. It was a very delicate tat may be explored by the coastal lumps former genera One may wander up the slope onto operation to extract myself and road south of Alta by the fjord. In Clossiana and Proclosssiana into Two Arctic Locations: (1) Åbisko other bogs. manoeuvre to dryer ground. But particular, there is a disused copper Boloria. Of the ten exClossiana Åbisko is a village in the northern- one can often find the bog species mine with obvious outcrops of ex- (exC.) species (Pearl-bordered Fritil- most part of Sweden, lying along Getting to Åbisko via Kiruna by the roadside nearby in ditches cavated stone whose grey colour lary and relatives), eight are found the southern shore of a vast lake, About one hour’s drive east of or on waste ground where there matches the wing-colour of North- in the Arctic, while at most five can Torneträsk. Slightly to the west of Abisko is Kiruna, a town dedicated are flowers in abundance in high ern Glandon Blue ( aquilo) be found in the Alps and only three the main village is Mt Njulla where to iron ore which is taken to summer. found there. • at low altitude in southern Europe. most of the true arctic species fly. Narvik on the Norwegian coast by Among all European butterfly Also, no doubt, they fly in other train via Åbisko. Often I’ve sat on (2) Alta Bernard Watts groupings, the exClossiana (along mountains in this region, but a the high ground and counted the The second location is Alta on the [email protected] with Oeneis, arguably) show the chairlift part way up the mountain invariable 78 trucks. Norwegian coast, a day’s drive to All photos by Bernard Watts.

22 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 23 THE ALPS

THE ALPS

The Alps – endemics and others by Marian Thomas

When, in the late 1980s, I acquired a copy of Higgins and Riley’s he species diversity in the Alps only in the Alps, although its range is impressive, reflecting differ- also extends from the Urals to Kam- A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe, I was T ences in geology, altitude and chatka and across to the Rockies. immediately fascinated by the distribution maps. Especially, I saw climate, and also the evolutionary The above apart, the list of “Alps legacy of glaciation cycles. Butter- endemics” comprises Little Fritillary that one recurring pattern marked the arc of the Alps, and so flies are often abundant, as much (Melitaea asteria), Warren’s Skipper began an ambition to see the huge diversity of butterflies there. favourable habitat remains. (Pyrgus warrenensis) and eleven or Before we get on to the true so Erebia ringlets. endemics, we should note that Of those Erebias, Lesser Moun- there is a set of around twenty tain Ringlet () is characteristic species which are the most common and widespread, found in various places outside probably followed by Mnestra (E. the Alps, but which occur as a mnestra), Swiss Brassy (E. tyndarus) complete set only in the Alps. For and Eriphyle (E. eriphyle). Let’s now example, outside the Alps, take a frenetic tour to round up the

Fritillary (Melitaea varia) occurs more restricted endemics and some Blind t only in the Apennines whilst other species. Blues congregation, Lac des Dix Ringlet () is found only in the Tatras, and so on. South-west Warren’s Skipper has scattered (and Italy – and back) Exactly how many species are Starting in the south-west, in the colonies. False Mnestra Ringlet A determined focus on rarer Ere- considered endemic to the Alps French region Provence-Alpes-Côte (Erebia aethiopella) is easy enough bias alone might lead us straight to depends on the details of taxonomy d-Azur and the Italian sections of to find around and below the high the Milan motorway, but that – some authorities classify Darwin’s the Maritime and , passes at, or on either side of, would forgo the Rhône valley area Heath (Coenonympha gardetta species diversity is enhanced by the France/Italy border, from the in Switzerland, so our tour loops darwiniana) as a full species rather typical Mediterranean butterflies Mercantour National Park (eg Col around to the Great St Bernard Pass than as a subspecies of Alpine (mostly below about 1500m). de la Lombarde) northwards (eg and down to Martigny. The wide

Small Apollo t Heath (C. gardetta) , whilst it is only Higher up, the Boloria species Col Agnel, Col d’Izoard) and into valley from here to Brig enjoys (Parnassius phoebus) recently that the Alpine Zephyr Blue Shepherd’s and Mountain Fritillaries the area around Briançon. The sunny and warm conditions, and (Kretania trappi) has been split from (B. pales and B. napaea), common (semi)-endemic Larche Ringlet is hosts species more characteristic of other zephyr blues. It also depends and characteristic throughout the less common, and its fondness for southern Europe. A trip up one of on exactly where the Alps begin. Alps, are joined by a third, Balkan bare scree makes it trickier to the side valleys, passing through a Anomalous Blue (Poly- Fritillary (B. graeca). Its altitudinal approach. Col de Larche itself is succession of habitats with altitude, ommatus humedasae) (wholly) and range is lower than, but overlaps perhaps one of the more user- can produce a huge range of Larche Ringlet (Erebia scipio) (partly) with, the other two. Balkan is friendly sites. The area east of species. But it’s also worthwhile occur in areas which may strictly found only in a few areas, however Briançon also affords opportuni- to head straight to the end – for be “prealpine” rather than in the – mostly around the France/Italy ties for pursuing the Larche, but example, to the Lac des Dix at the Alps themselves. border and in the Écrins National Park. may require even more skill in bal- top of the Val d’Hérémence. At In Europe west of the Urals, Small Already in this region our ancing on scree, before we head peak season here, a walk along the False Mnestra Ringlet t (Erebia aethiopella) Apollo (Parnassius phoebus) lives quest for Alpine endemics begins. out of the Alps towards Turin. lake can yield plentiful congrega-

24 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 25 THE ALPS

THE ALPS

t Little Fritillary (Melitaea asteria)

mountains above about 2000m (eg Stubnerkogel). We must go further east to find

Sudeten Ringlet t our next Alps – and indeed Austrian (Erebia sudetica) - endemic, the White-speck Ringlet (Erebia claudina). Its westernmost population is in the Hohe Tauern, around Mallnitz, then further east, scattered throughout the Niedere Tauern. The males are more restrained than the females in their tions of blues and fritillaries, gliding down from the top of It is present in scattered populations the Karawanken). Past Innsbruck, display of submarginal white spots together with Small Apollos. inaccessible cliffs. It may be slightly across the canton (as is Warren’s the mountains around the Zillertal on the upper hindwing, and it can A trip from the Rhône valley easier to find over the Italian Skipper); one of these occurs eastwards are a major area for Little take a very close approach to realise through the Lötschberg tunnel into border, in the vicinity of Alpe Veglia around the Albula Pass. Yellow- Fritillary, but perhaps our easiest that you are looking at a White- the Bernese Oberland leads to the and Alpe Devero. Around there, banded Ringlet is present in the course is on to the Grossglockner speck rather than a Blind Ringlet rare (Erebia sudet- and continuing northwards up Val Oberengadin area. Hochalpenstrasse. This is an expen- (the latter are common here). ica), found between 1100 and Antigorio and Val Formazza, steep But we are now suffering from sive and touristy toll road but worth

t Alpine Zephyr Blue 1900m around Grindelwald. At grassy slopes above 1800m are the endemics overload, and take a walk it for the spectacular scenery and … and Slovenia (Kretania trappi) higher altitude there is a small habitat of the most westerly from S-chanf up Val Trupchun, butterflies. Along here, near the Only Lorkovic’s Brassy Ringlet (Ere- population of the Alpine endemic populations of another Alps en- which can be most rewarding, eastern edge of their range, Little bia calcaria) remains to complete De Lesse’s Brassy Ringlet (Erebia demic, Yellow-banded Ringlet (Ere- especially for the range of blues. Fritillaries are quite easy to find, our quest. There are some colonies nivalis), whose main range is in bia flavofasciata). The Unterengadin, in which the looking decidedly un-fritillary-like as in the Austrian Karawanken Alps, Austria. We head back towards Domod- National Park lies, also holds a they buzz low over the sward. but these are rather off-piste, so we Continuing eastward along the ossola and eastwards, re-entering population of Stygian Ringlet (eg Also on the road, around Franz cross the border into Slovenia, to Rhône towards the Visp area brings Switzerland by the Valle Centovalli around the Ofenpass). Josefs Höhe, we may find De Lesse’s find it in the Triglav National Park. • us into the range of (arguably) the road. Some interesting species Brassy Ringlet amongst the other only Alpine endemic blue, Alpine fly here, including Chequered Austria high alpine species. From here, its Marian Thomas Zephyr Blue. One stronghold is Blue (Scolitantides orion), Large We could go on into the Südtirol core range extends eastwards, on All photos by Marian Thomas. above Steg and Ausserberg, where Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus area of Italy and then the Dolomites narrow roads wind up the huge morpheus) and Hungarian Glider for more Stygian, and for the south-facing slope of the main (Neptis rivularis). This canton, very similar (Erebia valley. A diversion down the Mat- Ticino, affords further opportunities stirius) – perhaps not strictly an Alps tertal towards Zermatt takes us to for Yellow-banded Ringlet (in endemic, as its range also extends

t Rätzer’s Ringlet a Warren’s Skipper outpost, with a the high passes in the north, south southwards into the NW corner of (Erebia christi) hike up to Täschalp perhaps afford- of the Val Bedretto corridor) and, . But we’re running out of ing the best prospect of success. in the far south, the chance of time, so we head into Austria via Proceeding past Brig and over the another endemic, Stygian Ringlet the Reschenpass. Simplon Pass, the route reaches (Erebia styx). Here in the western Tirol, there is into the territory of Rätzer’s Ringlet Moving on into the canton of a further chance of Stygian and (Erebia christi). But this endemic is Graubünden, we have the first possibly Styrian (the latter also in elusive in the Swiss valleys south of chances of seeing Little Fritillary,

the Simplon, only occasionally the only Alpine endemic fritillary. White-speck Ringlet t (Erebia claudina)

26 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 27 ITALY

ITALY

Italy – an under-rated

butterfly destination

t by Mike Prentice t Elban Heath (Coenonympha corinna elbana) Sardinian ( nurag) (photo by Nigel Peace) (photo by Nigel Peace)

For some reason Italy doesn’t taly’s species richness is due in dolus virgilius), the Gran Sasso Tyrrenian endemic, Corsican Grayling large part to its long northern which contains the highest peaks in (H. neomiris). Off the north coast get the attention it deserves I border which encompasses most the Appenines, the wild and seldom of Sicily on the volcanic Eolian from British lepidopterists. of the Alps. In addition to species visited Maiella, and Monte Pollino. islands the Eolian Grayling like Warren’s Skipper (Pyrgus war- The southern half of Italy is also (H. leighebi) is probably best seen France, Spain and Greece rensis), which flies in a restricted home to the Italian Marbled White on the island of Vulcano, a short seem to attract more interest range in Switzerland and Italy, there (Melanargia arge). hydrofoil trip from Sicily. are more than 30 species of Erebia. and yet Italy has more species Ratzer’s Ringlet (Erebia christi) is Endemics Sicily perhaps Europe’s rarest species and Italy has a large but fluctuating Sicily is a fascinating island with than any other European only flies in a small area either side number of endemics (or near- an amazing mix of cultures and country as well as, in my of the Swiss-Italian border. After endemics shared for example with culinary influences. It also has a searching for it in the correct place Corsica), depending on the - fascinating mixture of butterflies

view, the best food in Europe. at the right time of year on at omy of the moment. The updated including the endemic Sicilian least 5 occasions without any luck, t list at the back of this magazine Marbled White (Melanargia pherusa), The Cogne Valley I was at last successful in 2016! Cogne Valley creates one such species – Italian and geographically isolated popula- The Erebias are principally con- Another favourite place in the humedasae) which – once you Festoon (Zerynthia cassandra), now tions of both Aetherie Fritillary fined to the Alps, from Larche north of Italy is the Cogne Valley know where it flies – is easily seen split from Southern Festoon (Z. (Melitaea aetherie) and African Ringlet (E. scipio) and False Mnestra which leads up to Gran Paradiso, and quite numerous but mainly polyxena) – but removes another, Grass Blue (Zizeeria knysna). Ringlet (E. aethiopella) in the west Italy’s first National Park established inhabits one single slope which is Gallo’s Anomalous Blue (now part to Styrian (E. stirius) and Stygian in 1922 to protect the Ibex. The bisected by a convenient path. of Polyommatus ripartii). Elban Sardinia Ringlets (E. styx) in the east, with valley is home to the Piedmont Further up the main valley a gentle Heath (Coenonympha corinna el- The final stop on our itinerary around many more in between. Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus walk up above either Valnontey or bana) has in the past been treated Italy takes us to Sardinia, a beautiful Lillaz is likely to yield more than 45 as a full species but is currently island of blue seas, white sands species in a day in July. considered part of Corsican Heath. and gently rolling green hills. The There are several restricted-range island shares with Corsica numerous The central spine members of the Hipparchia genus endemic butterfly species. Amongst In all Italy has 24 National Parks that are endemic to Italy. The Italian those to look out for are the Corsican although not all are necessarily Grayling (H. neapolitana) flies near ( ichnusa), designated for their wildlife. How- Naples whilst Sicily has the Sicilian Corsican Swallowtail (Papilio hospi- ever a journey down the main part Grayling (H. blachieri) and offshore ton), Corsican Heath (Coenonympha of the peninsula would allow visits the island of Ponza has the Ponza corinna) and Sardinian Meadow to many wild and beautiful parks Grayling (H. sbordonii). Southern Brown (Maniola nurag). •

such as Monti Sibillini – good for Grayling (H. aristaeus) is now t

t Piedmont Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus (Erebia neoridas) Autumn Ringlet (E. neoridas) and confined to Sardinia and Corsica Mike Prentice humedasae) (photo by Mike Prentice) (photo by Nigel Peace) ‘Italian’ Furry Blue (Polyommatus where it is joined by another [email protected]

28 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 29 FRANCE FRANCE

The Heaths(genus Coen onympha) of France

by Roger Gibbons

The Coenonympha group here are eight species in this Chestnut Heath (C. glycerion) group (or nine, depending on Pearly Heath (C. arcania) is sometimes rather T taxonomic preference) and they Dusky Heath (C. dorus) under-appreciated and have very different ecological Small Heath (C. pamphilus) requirements. not often high on must-see They are: Several are limited to wetlands: lists of species for visitors to Scarce Heath (C. hero) hero, oedippus, and tullia. These False Ringlet (C. oedippus) are all scarce and very localised, mainland France. Large Heath (C. tullia) mainly because of the drainage of

Alpine Heath (C. gardetta) wetlands. Three are found at high t

Darwin’s Heath (C. gardetta altitude: gardetta, darwiniana, t Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia) Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion) darwiniana) and (usually) glycerion. The other three, arcania, dorus and pam- sexes are quite easy to identify in precise for oedippus, as evidenced be no clear agreement on the philus, are generally low to the field. by the fact that it confined itself to taxonomy of the various sub- medium altitude species. regions of specific dampness, not species in Europe. The hindwing ocelli (always False Ringlet (C. oedippus) too dry and not too wet, making it It could be confused with the visible as this genus almost never This is a very appealing member of something of a Goldilocks butterfly. more widespread Chestnut Heath settles with open wings) may well the Coenonympha genus, despite (C. glycerion) with which it some- have an important survival value in its erroneous name: the English Large Heath (C. tullia) times flies, but the distinguishing that they resemble eyes and thus names given by the early entomol- A species of the wetlands of the characteristic is that the white discal tempt predators to attack there, as ogists were adopted in the books northern areas of Europe, with very line reaches the hindwing costa in predators generally attempt to of the time and have remained limited distribution in north-eastern tullia but not in glycerion. disable their prey with a bite at unchanged. It is a species of the France. The Lafranchis distribution

the head. It is not unusual to wetlands and is highly localised in map (http://diatheo.weebly.com/co Alpine Heath (C. gardetta) t see Coenonympha species with a France and across Europe, the enonympha-tullia.html) shows it as This is an Alpine altitude specialist Scarce Heath () section of the hindwing missing. strongholds being in south-western occurring in a few small and sepa- occurring at altitudes over 1500m, France and in northern Italy. rated colonies in eastern France. It normally over 2000m. It is Scarce Heath (C. hero) It is threatened because of occurs in the UK only in parts of the relatively easy to identify, in France An increasingly rare butterfly of the drainage of the wetlands, even north of and in Scotland. at least, because the bold black wetlands. It now occurs in very few though the species is now The variation, even within small rings are (usually) all inside the places in eastern France, and its protected. Its habitat is damp colonies, may be quite marked in white band. There is, however, future existence is threatened by adjacent to scrubland, terms of the hindwing ground considerable scope for confusion the continued destruction of its and always close to open water. colour, ocelli, and discal line. between gardetta, darwiniana habitat, despite the fact that the The photo was taken at an isolated It is widespread but localised and arcania, because of interbreed- butterfly itself is protected. It is and protected site in Isère which I across Europe, with several distinct ing, although an authoritative a beautiful butterfly for which was very kindly shown by the local subspecies. According to Tolman source states that arcania does not photographs can only just begin to conservation organisation. The and Lewington, the subspecies that fly above 1700m so any putative do justice. The male is appreciably ecological requirements in terms of occurs in France is tiphon. Other darwiniana significantly above that

t False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus) darker than the female, so the dampness seemed to be very works differ, and there appears to level should be just that.

30 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 31 FRANCE FRANCE

t Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus) separate species, while in others it is classified as a subspecies of glycerion. There is also some Darwin's Heath uncertainty relating to the taxo- (Coenonympha gardetta nomic status of the populations

darwiniana) t that occur on the French side of the Pyrénées, which may constitute a third taxon: C. g. pseudoamyntas. Alpine Heath t (Coenonympha gardetta) Pearly Heath (C. arcania) Darwin's Heath (C. gardetta Arcania is an attractive butterfly, darwiniana) with bright orange-ringed ocelli This is a localised butterfly of the when fresh, and often very com- Alps. Its taxonomy is uncertain, and mon and widely distributed in it is likewise difficult to identify with southern France. certainty because of its similarity to arcania and gardetta, the natural Dusky Heath (C. dorus) variability of all three taxa, and the A heat-loving butterfly limited to interbreeding that occurs in certain the far south-east (in France), locations. sometimes quite common. It is These are some of the key quite intricately marked and can identification points: vary between quite richly coloured, 1. hindwing white band: the dar- to quite “washy” even when fresh. winiana band is a similar shape to The underside silvery submarginal arcania but less dentate, and band is usually visible, and it is hard

narrower, in the centre, whereas t Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) to imagine what survival value this the gardetta white band is of may have for dorus. broadly constant width. very pale. to none at all, as well as variation in 2. hindwing ocellus in space 6: in However... it is known that colouration - in fact the majority of Small Heath (C. pamphilus) darwiniana it is inside the band at hybridized populations of darwini- individuals could not be described This species is common in the UK, the internal edge, whereas for ana and gardetta (and sometimes as chestnut. The books usually say but although widespread in France, gardetta it is toward the outer edge arcania) occur in the region around that glycerion can be identified by it does not seem quite so numer- of the band, and in arcania the Col de Larche on the France/Italy the series of post-discal spots with ous, even in the south. There does it is generally just outside the border. These are known as the brilliant white pupils. However, this appear to be quite a lot of variation, band. This is however subject form philedarwiniana. is somewhat unhelpful given that with some (very) vestigial post-dis- to much variation, especially in the form bertolis, which has no cal spots on the hindwing. The gardetta, where all the ocelli may Chestnut Heath (C. glycerion) ocelli at all, is not uncommon at southern form lyllus is much lighter be located centrally within the band. This is a very widespread species, high altitudes. and more sandy-coloured, and the 3. colour of ocelli: the arcania encountered at most high altitude There is a very similar taxon discal line is more complete and ocelli outer rings are generally locations, even though it is not ex- of uncertain taxonomical status, with strong contrast either side. • orange, whereas for darwiniana clusively a high altitude species. the Spanish Heath (C. glycerion they are yellow, and for gardetta There is a large degree of variation iphioides) which flies in northern Roger Gibbons

t between individuals, even within Spain and does not occur in France. [email protected] Pearly Heath the same locality, from strong ocelli In some works it is classified as a All photos by Roger Gibbons. ()

32 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 33 PYRENEES

PYRENEES

Looking for the elusive Lefèbvre’s Ringlet () in the Pyrénées

by Jude Lock

My local area is known as he Hautes-Pyrénées is home to Mountain butterflies 159 butterfly species, fourteen Mountain butterflies have devel- the Pays Toy which T of which are from the genus Erebia. oped efficient thermo-regulation comprises the valleys of The geographic isolation of the strategies which enable them to Pyrénées from other mountain survive in relatively ‘marginal’ con- Barèges and Luz-Saint- ranges, the remarkable diversity of ditions, with a short flight period in

Sauveur and continues to habitats, the geology, and wide what can be unstable and variable t Winter beneath the Pic du Midi. range of climatic conditions to- weather conditions. The lying snow the Spanish border gether with a rich and specific plant at higher altitudes throughout the life, has facilitated the development winter months serves as protection at Gavarnie. It is the of such a large number of species. by forming an insulating cover from most southerly part of The Pays Toy is the entry point for the cold and wet. Air temperatures the Pyrénées National Park and the can fall as low as -25°C at 3000m. the Hautes-Pyrénées Néouvielle Nature Reserve. It con- department. tains some of the most spectacular Ringlets scenery of the range including the Ringlets are difficult, if not almost Cirque de Gavarnie (a UNESCO impossible to identify on the wing, World Heritage Site) and Mont as the butterflies are predominantly Perdu, one of the highest Pyrenean dark brown in coloration, albeit

peaks at 3355m. with a few diagnostic coloured t

t Lefèbvre’s Ringlet (Erebia lefebvrei), male Lefèbvre’s Ringlet (Erebia lefebvrei), female

bands and spots on the uppersides result in low butterfly numbers The species is listed as Least and undersides of the wings. emerging in the summer. Concern in the 2010 IUCN European Fortunately for identification, not Red List, and NT: quasi menacée all mountain Ringlets emerge at the Lefèbvre’s Ringlet in the 2012 Red List for France. same period and some high-flying (Erebia lefebvrei) Although considered rare in the species, particularly those above One of our local species is the iconic Midi-Pyrénées, it is present in the 1800m, are only found within a Lefèbvre’s Ringlet, a European Hautes-Pyrénées and Ariège, and specific habitat of rocky scree and endemic, present in the Pyrénées can be locally abundant. low density flora. Butterfly popula- and the Cantabrian mountains. It is interesting to read from tions of Ringlets here can vary It was captured by Alexandre the handwritten script of the greatly from year to year, depend- Lefèbvre near Barèges in the “Monographie de la vallée de ing on the climatic conditions. Poor Hautes-Pyrénées and described Barèges”, 1907 by J.P. Rondou, the

t Col de Tentes with lac des Espécières in the foreground. weather in the early spring can by Boisduval in 1828. Pyrénéen entomologist from the

34 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 35 PYRENEES

PYRENEES

t Web'obs species page for Erebia lefebvrei.

involve stiff rough walking. How- in Digne-les-Bains, in 2013. The ever, there are sites with easy access on-line atlas can be consulted at in the Barèges valley, on the rocky the CEN MP’s website Web’obs hillsides around the Col du Tour- (http://www.webobs.cen-mp.org/). malet (2115m). Another site with It covers the eight departments of road access is above Gavarnie the former Midi-Pyrénées region: village, at the Col de Tentes Ariège, Aveyron, Haute-Garonne,

Tourmalet. t (2208m), in the Parc National des Gers, Lot, Hautes-Pyrénées, Tarn Pyrénées. These areas are also rich and Tarn-et-Garonne. the ground. I often observe speci- in absolutely fresh specimens, is that for other alpine species. It comprises records from three mens settled on sun-warmed rocks, all over the central area of the upper databases, those of the CEN MP, or tucked into sheltered areas side of the forewings a dense mass Working towards a Butterfly Nature Midi-Pyrénées and the of scree. They raise their body of androconial scales can be seen. Atlas for Occitanie Association Naturalistes de l’Ariège. temperature in cool weather by “Typical lefebvrei, as a radical Occitanie is a new administrative Each of these databases also dorsal basking. The dark undersides form, is confined to the Hautes- region of France created in 2016 regroups the records of many also serve to absorb the warmth of Pyrénées. Here it is widely dis- from the former regions of Midi- local naturalists and different the heat-retaining rocks. The males tributed and probably occurs in all Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussil- organisations, including EIG. It is appear almost black, and both sexes suitable localities, as well as in lon. Butterfly atlas work is ongoing being continually fed with new have pronounced white pupils. the adjoining mountains on the and a printed atlas covering the records. There is a monograph for Spanish side of the range.” new region will be published by each species, detailing the number Identification notes by the CEN-LR (Languedoc-Roussillon) of records, the villages concerned, B.C.S. Warren Where to see them in due course. In the meantime distribution before 1950 up to the B.C.S. Warren, in his Monograph of Lefèbvre’s Ringlets are relatively on-line atlases are well advanced. present day, flight period, etc. the Genus Erebia (1936 British sedentary, found within small pock- Museum), notes the following ets and do not disperse over large Midi-Pyrénées Languedoc-Roussillon

t Lefèbvre’s Ringlet local village of Gèdre, that he about E. lefebvrei lefebvrei (Boisd): distances. Many sites are in inacces- The atlas programme for the Midi- The online atlas covers the depart- (Erebia lefebvrei), male regarded E. lefebvrei as « assez “The two chief characters of sible locations, so are not threat- Pyrénées started at the end of ments of the Aude, Gard, Hérault, (photo by Nigel Peace) commun », i.e. ‘fairly common’. typical lefebvrei are the presence of ened by human development, with 2008, and is coordinated by David Lozère and the Pyrénées-Orientales. You can find the species on the the red-orange bands on the upper the exception of some of the Demergès from the Conservatoire The website is http://www.libel- wing from late June until August, side of the forewings, and the large ski areas. In addition the limited d'espaces naturels Midi-Pyrénées lules-et-papillons-lr.org/atlas/ • on rocky, rough grazing slopes and size of the black spots, which vary distribution area makes the species (CEN MP), and EIG partner. 'L'Atlas shale scree, often on limestone. in number from three to five on susceptible to longer-term threats, des Rhopalocères et Zygènes de Jude Lock These areas of sparse vegetation both fore- and hindwings. including reduced snow coverage Midi-Pyrénées, un outil des sciences [email protected] can be found at high altitudes. The “An infallible test for the males, and the disruption of eco-systems. participatives', was presented at All photos by Jude Lock except butterflies fly rapidly and close to but one that can be observed only Most of the sites at altitude the EIG - Proserpine conference where indicated.

36 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 37 SPAIN SPAIN t Southern Hermit Montes Universales, Spain (Chazara prieuri) by Dudley Cheesman

Rambla de Monterde

t The Rambla de Monterde is a dry A view of Albarracin. watercourse that heads northwards from a lay-by on the south side of The first visit was from 27 July the main road from Albarracin to to 3 August 2013 and we were Gea de Albarracin. The lay-by is fortunate to have Paul Browning above a triple tunnel built to allow (author of Butterflies of the melt or floodwaters to run into the Iberian Peninsula) with us. Target Rio Guadalaviar. Scrub vegetation species included Hermit (Chazara along banksides provided a distinct briseis), Southern Hermit (C. scent with forms of santolina and prieuri), Striped Grayling (Hip- thyme amongst the diversity of parchia fidia), Mother-of-Pearl Blue plants. Bath White (Pontia daplidice) (), Spanish was much in evidence, and Silver- and Azure Chalkhill Blues ( spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)

albicans and L. caelestissima), and t Striped Grayling was identified in the dry riverbed. Spanish Argus (Aricia morronensis). () The butterfly fauna was similar to Zapater’s Ringlet (Erebia zapateri) that seen at the previous site but it was also a target although the was along this rambla we discov- The Reserva Nacional de Montes t is an area of some 1000 square timing of the visit was early for this Chapman’s Blue (P. thersites) and ered what was to be our only sight- Ikm with an elevation between late-flying species. Spanish . Later, ing of Southern Hermit (C. prieuri); Universales lies in central-eastern 1000 and 1900m, made up of The team was based in Albar- dozens of male Lycaenids were sharp-eyed readers will notice that Spain between Teruel and patches of arable land in the low- racin, at the eastern edge of the found on the outside of the culvert one antenna tip was missing! lying areas mainly used for grain, Reserva. Albarracin is a delightful wall taking salts. Cuenca. The range of mountains and arid scrub, poplars, junipers historic fortified Moorish town and In the adjacent ‘Dried Pond’ Noguera and Bronchales and pine forest with occasional oak a National Monument, at an area records included Black On the basis of information re- embraces the Sierra de woods. The Tagus River rises here elevation of c.1000m. The town Satyr (Satyrus actaea), Hermit, ceived from a chance encounter Albarracin and runs roughly but there are many dry riverbeds, has both hotel accommodation Striped Grayling and Sage Skipper with some Dutch butterfly enthusi- filled only by storms and late winter and a campsite. The main sites (Muschampia proto), but not asts, a trip was made to Noguera south-east to north-west. snow-melt. Summer temperatures we visited are described in the Southern Hermit. north-west of Albarracin on the

are very high with little rain. following paragraphs. t Spanish Chestnut Heath All three gatekeepers – Gate- A1512 road to search for the Span- The Reserva and immediate area (Coenonympha glycerion iphioides) keeper (Pyronia tithonus), Southern ish Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei). is said to hold some 140 butterfly The ‘Dried Pond’ Barranco, (P. cecilia), and Spanish It was extremely cold in the early species. EIG teams led by Simon near Albarracin Gatekeeper (P. bathseba) – were seen morning before the sun had risen Spencer visited the area in 2013 This location comprises a former were everywhere. A large culvert throughout the week, together above the mountains. We never did and 2016 in order to search for and pond and wet area, dried out as a beneath the road built to allow with Grayling (Hipparchia semele), find the copper (unlike the team map the distribution of some more result of road improvements, a few melt waters to clear provided initial Rock Grayling (H. alcyone), and Great that visited the area in 2016), but notable ones. km from Albarracin on the road to excitement with an Oberthür’s Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe). this was an extremely rich area with Pozondon, with a barranco leading Anomolous Blue (Polyommatus fab- Tree Grayling (H. statilinus) and False considerable species diversity. High- t The Rambla de Monterde in northwards. On the team’s first visit ressei) together with many blues Grayling (Arethusana arethusa) were lights included Dark Green Fritillary overcast weather. in warm sunshine butterflies ‘puddling’ in damp soil, including also seen on occasion. (Argynnis aglaja), High Brown Fritil-

38 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 39 SPAIN SPAIN

lary (A. adippe), Large Tortoiseshell The road continues to Bronchales flies where the collection included Blue and various graylings, plus semiargus), and Idas Blue (P. idas). (Nymphalis polychloros), and and near Fuente del Canto we had more than local species and was a another Twin-spot Fritillary. Male Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris), Chap- Mother-of-Pearl Blue. the opportunity to photograph worthwhile stop. and female Hermit, and a Large man’s Blue (P. thersites), and Com- We explored higher ground that Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alci- Tortoiseshell were seen. It was a mon Blue (P. icarus) were all present opened into a wide valley with phron) and fresh Lesser Marbled Moscardon rewarding habitat and seemed as well! grazing grassland. Silver-washed Fritillary (Brenthis ino); ‘Spanish’ The area around Moscardon proved perfect for our target species, but The survey did produce positive Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) was Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glyc- to be very productive and we no Zapater’s Ringlet. We had to results. Searches for Astragalus nectaring on flowers along the erion iphioides) was also present. found a Twin-spot Fritillary (Bren- draw the conclusion that we were turolensis, the food plant of stream bottom together with Cardi- On a subsequent visit we made a this hecate) along with good num- too early in this late season year. Spanish Zephyr Blue, showed that it nal (A. pandora); Spotted Fritillary stop on the Sierra Alta near bers of Azure Chalkhill Blue and So concluded the first EIG visit: continues to flourish in the area. (Melitaea didyma), Small Tortoise- Bronchales in the hope of finding all five of the Argynnis fritillaries, about 90 species seen, with a good The target species was discovered at t Azure Chalkhill Blue shell (Aglais urticae) and Southern Zapater’s Ringlet (Erebia zapateri), including Niobe (A. niobe). Here, record of Southern Hermit, and a 8 sites and, in total, 83 species (Lysandra caelestissima) White Admiral (Limenitis reducta) but without success. We did too, a solitary example of Spanish number of ‘firsts’ for many of the were recorded generating over 600 (photo by Nigel Peace) were also noted. however see Tree Grayling flying Rusty Foxglove ( obscura) team. records for the Spanish database. amongst the pines. was seen, and an Ocellated Lizard In addition to the Spanish Zephyr (Lacerta lepida). Second visit, 4-13 June 2016 Blue, of particular note was a Griegos area, including the The second EIG survey trip took confirmed record of Iberian Sooty Museum of Butterflies Tragacete, Cuenca Province place from 4-13 June 2016 Copper (Lycaena bleusei). • To the west of Albarracin, accessed Tragacete is a known site for Zapa- and was prompted by Miguel via Tramacastilla and Villar del ter’s Ringlet. The route was via Munguira, our BCE colleague in Dudley Cheesman Cobo, is Griegos set in a high level Calomarde and Frias de Albarracin Spain, who requested help in [email protected] valley and backed by the massif of over a high pass with spectacular surveying the Spanish Zephyr Blue All photos by Dudley Cheesman Muela San Juan. We drove up to views. We were able to park on a (Kretania hesperica). except where stated. the mirador where we had our dead-end track adjacent to the The challenge for the team was closest views of Apollo (Parnassius mixed grassland and pinewood separating the many blues that This is a shortened version of articles apollo), but none would settle habitat north of Tragacete, and were flying at the time of the visit: in EIG 14 and 20. for photographs. The habitat was quickly found a good range of Escher’s Blue (Polyommatus escheri) a mixture of grassland and species, including Azure Chalkhill in particular due to similar under- pinewood, so there was a reason- side markings, but also Turquoise able mix of species. Dropping back t Zapater's Ringlet Blue (P. dorylas), Mother-of-Pearl t Spanish Zephyr Blue down into the village we were (Erebia zapateri) (photo by Nigel Peace Blue, Adonis Blue (Lysandra (Kretania hesperica) directed to the Museum of Butter- taken later in August) bellargus), Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris (photo by Kevin Tolhurst)

Spanish Chalkhill Blue t (Lysandra albicans) (photo by Nigel Peace)

40 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 41 SPAIN SPAIN

Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea), to- gether with a whole variety of birds Sierra Nevada, Spain including Short-toed Eagles, Griffon by Mike Prentice Vultures, Alpine Swifts and Black- bellied Sandgrouse. Evenings were spent mainly outdoors in a beautiful warm climate eating delicious food One of the (many) joys of in good company!

studying European butterflies Species Recovery Plans is the beautiful places you Miguel and his team went on to do further fieldwork and then

need to visit. When I was t Andalusian Anomalous Blues (Polyommatus violetae) produced for each species a Species Recovery Plan which included sec- given the opportunity to (photo by Juan Pablo Cancela) tions on the species’ identification, spend 3 weeks in the summer Iberian peninsula at 3479m) and organised a number of Spanish distribution, habitat, population found both A. zullichi and P. golgus volunteers to augment his students size and an action plan. The whole of 2013 in the Sierra Nevada as well as Spanish Argus (Aricia mor- and the EIG team and we covered a project was sponsored by Butterfly mountains of southern Spain, I ronensis), another Spanish endemic vast area looking for the adults and Conservation Europe and gener- – in fact we saw 49 species of larval foodplant on both existing ously sponsored by MAVA, Fonda-

jumped at the chance. butterfly on the first day in a com- known sites and anywhere else that tion pour la Nature. • t bination of high altitude and low- the habitat looked suitable. Zullich's Blues (Agriades zullichi) (photo by José Miguel Barea) land species. What a start! Two interesting diversions were Mike Prentice The first week was spent mainly trips back to the Sierra Nevada to [email protected] iguel Munguira, the leading be able to spend 3 weeks on the at altitude searching for A. zullichi check out reports of P. violetae in Mexpert on Spanish lycaenids, project whereas everyone else and P. golgus, counting numbers the Sierra Nevada National Park This project was previously reported was leading a project on four could only spare a week. Our task of adults in transects and counting where there had been no previous in EIG 14. endangered endemics and EIG had was to assist with the surveys for larval foodplant in a 10m quadrat. records and thus the species was not already helped with fieldwork in the three summer-flying species: P. golgus has a subspecies sagra- included in the superb book on the t Nevada Blue 2012. Volunteers were needed for Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus), trox which flies on La Sagra, a butterflies of the Park. Two of the (Polyommatus golgus), further work and I was one of five Zullich's Blue (Agriades zullichi), beautiful isolated mountain about authors of the book were with female (photo by José EIG members who flew out from and Andalusian Anomalous Blue 80km north of the Sierra Nevada us and were delighted when we Miguel Barea) the UK to assist. I was fortunate to (Polyommatus violetae). The fourth range, and this too needed to be found thriving colonies of P. vio- species, Spanish Greenish Black-tip visited. A stiff early morning climb letae – something to be included (Euchloe bazae), flies in the spring from the track where we left the in the next edition of the book! and I had been lucky enough to cars at 1650m to the summit at see that earlier in the year despite 2384m yielded a fantastic view of Other highlights unseasonably poor weather. the surrounding area, 20 sagratrox, The trip was a fantastic combination numerous other hill-topping butter- of hard work (temperatures at times Nevada and Zullich’s Blues flies and Griffon Vultures and Red- in the field were in the high 30s) My trip started in early July and for- billed Choughs flying around us. and the opportunity to enjoy tunately (unlike the previous year) the beautiful surroundings and the three target species were Andalusian Anomalous Blue numerous other sights. Butterfly already on the wing. On the first Weeks 3 and 4 were mainly spent highlights included Nevada Grayling day we visited the north side of searching for Andalusian Anomalous (Pseudochazara mercurius), Spanish

Mulhacen (the highest peak in the Blue (P. violetae). Miguel had Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania) and t Species Recovery Plan Booklets

42 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 43 Updated Checklist of European Butterfly Species Pyrgus malvae Grizzled Skipper Iphiclides feisthamelii (4) Iberian Scarce Swallowtail Pyrgus malvoides Southern Grizzled Skipper The following list of 454 species has been compiled by a committee of taxonomic experts chaired by Rudi Pyrgus serratulae Papilio machaon Swallowtail Verovnik and incorporates the latest taxonomic changes. Full committee membership is given on the last Pyrgus onopordi Papilio hospiton Corsican Swallowtail page. The new list replaces the one published by Rudi Verovnik and Martin Wiemers in EIG 8 (October 2010). Pyrgus carlinae Papilio alexanor Southern Swallowtail Species which only occur east of the European Union (in Russia, etc) are not included. Pyrgus cirsii Pyrgus cinarae Sandy Grizzled Skipper PIERIDAE The list includes the following new species: Pyrgus armoricanus Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper Dismorphiinae Pyrgus alveus Leptidea sinapis Wood White New species History Distribution Pyrgus foulquieri (2) Foulquier's Grizzled Skipper Leptidea reali Réal's Wood White Pyrgus warrenensis Warren's Skipper Leptidea juvernica (5) Cryptic Wood White Spialia rosae Split from S. sertorius (Red-underwing Skipper) Spain Leptidea duponcheli Eastern Wood White Zerynthia cassandra Split from Z. polyxena (Southern Festoon) Italy Heteropterinae Leptidea morsei Fenton's Wood White Heteropterus morpheus Large Chequered Skipper Iphiclides feisthamelii Split from I. podalirius (Scarce Swallowtail) Spain, Portugal, France Leptidea juvernica New species within L. sinapis (Wood White) group Widespread Carterocephalus palaemon Chequered Skipper Orange-tip Azanus jesous Seems to be established S. Spain (Cadiz) Carterocephalus silvicolus Northern Chequered Skipper Anthocharis euphenoides Provence Orange-tip Anthocharis damone Eastern Orange-tip Iolana debilitata Spain Split from I. iolas (Iolas Blue) Hesperiinae Anthocharis gruneri Grüner's Orange-tip Polyommatus celina Split from P. icarus (Common Blue) Spain, Portugal, Italy Thymelicus lineola Essex Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris Small Skipper Zegris eupheme Sooty Orange-tip Euphydryas beckeri Split from E. aurinia (Marsh Fritillary) Spain, Portugal Thymelicus acteon Lulworth Skipper Melitaea nevadensis Split from M. athalia (Heath Fritillary). The Portugal, Spain, France, Thymelicus christi Canarian Skipper Euchloe belemia Green-striped White name nevadensis replaces celadussa Switzerland, Italy Thymelicus hyrax Levantine Skipper Euchloe eversi Euchloe grancanariensis Pseudochazara amalthea Split from P. anthelea (White-banded Grayling) Bosnia, , Greece, Hesperia comma Silver-spotted Skipper Euchloe hesperidum Macedonia, Bulgaria Euchloe crameri Western Dappled White Erebia arvernensis Split from E. cassioides (Common Brassy Ringlet) Spain, France, Italy, Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper Euchloe simplonia Mountain Dappled White Switzerland Euchloe ausonia Eastern Dappled White Gegenes pumilio Pygmy Skipper Euchloe tagis Portuguese Dappled White Erebia neleus Split from E. cassioides (Common Brassy Ringlet) Bosnia, Albania, Gegenes nostrodamus Mediterranean Skipper Euchloe insularis Corsican Dappled White , Macedonia, Euchloe charlonia Greenish Black-tip Greece, Bulgaria, Romania Borbo borbonica Zeller's Skipper Euchloe bazae Spanish Greenish Black-tip Euchloe penia Eastern Greenish Black-tip One species is ‘lost’: Polyommatus galloi (Gallo’s Anomalous Blue) is now regarded as part of P. ripartii Pelopidas thrax Millet Skipper (Ripart’s Anomalous Blue). Aporia crataegi Black-veined White PAPILIONIDAE Parnassiinae Large White HESPERIIDAE Red-underwing Skipper Zerynthia rumina Spanish Festoon Pieris wollastoni Madeiran Large White Pyrginae Spialia rosae (1) Zerynthia polyxena Southern Festoon Pieris cheiranthi Canary Islands Large White Erynnis tages Dingy Skipper Spialia orbifer Hungarian Skipper Zerynthia cassandra (3) Italian Festoon Pieris krueperi Krueper's Small White Erynnis marloyi Inky Skipper Spialia therapne Corsican Red-underwing Skipper Zerynthia cerisy Eastern Festoon Pieris mannii Southern Small White Zerynthia cretica Cretan Festoon Small White alceae Mallow Skipper Muschampia proto Sage Skipper Pieris ergane Mountain Small White Carcharodus tripolinus False Mallow Skipper Muschampia tessellum Tessellated Skipper Archon apollinus False Apollo Pieris napi Green-veined White Carcharodus lavatherae Marbled Skipper Muschampia cribrellum Spinose Skipper Pieris bryoniae Mountain Green-veined White Carcharodus flocciferus Tufted Marbled Skipper Parnassius mnemosyne Clouded Apollo Pieris balcana Balkan Green-veined White Carcharodus orientalis Oriental Marbled Skipper Pyrgus carthami Parnassius phoebus Small Apollo Carcharodus baeticus Southern Marbled Skipper Pyrgus sidae Yellow-banded Skipper Parnassius apollo Apollo Pontia callidice Peak White Carcharodus stauderi False Marbled Skipper Pyrgus andromedae Alpine Grizzled Skipper Pontia daplidice Bath White Pyrgus cacaliae Papilioninae Pontia edusa Eastern Bath White Spialia phlomidis Persian Skipper Pyrgus centaureae Northern Grizzled Skipper Iphiclides podalirius Scarce Swallowtail Pontia chloridice Small Bath White

44 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 45 Colotis evagore Desert Orange-tip Tomares ballus Provence Hairstreak melanops Black-eyed Blue Turquoise Blue Tomares nogelii (7) Nogel's Hairstreak Polyommatus golgus Nevada Blue Coliadinae Iolana iolas Iolas Blue Polyommatus nivescens Mother-of-Pearl Blue Catopsilia florella African Migrant Callophrys rubi Green Hairstreak Iolana debilitata (9) Polyommatus amandus Amanda's Blue Callophrys avis Chapman's Green Hairstreak Polyommatus thersites Chapman's Blue Colias phicomone Mountain Clouded Yellow Phengaris arion Large Blue Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Colias tyche Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow Satyrium w-album White-letter Hairstreak Phengaris teleius Scarce Large Blue Polyommatus celina (14) Colias palaeno Moorland Clouded Yellow Satyrium pruni Black Hairstreak Phengaris nausithous Dusky Large Blue Polyommatus eros Eros Blue Colias erate Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow Satyrium spini Blue-spot Hairstreak Phengaris alcon Alcon Blue Polyommatus daphnis Meleager's Blue Colias crocea Clouded Yellow Satyrium ilicis Ilex Hairstreak Anomalous Blue Colias hecla Northern Clouded Yellow Satyrium esculi False Ilex Hairstreak Luthrodes galba (10) Small Desert Blue Polyommatus fabressei Oberthür’s Anomalous Blue Colias myrmidone Danube Clouded Yellow Satyrium acaciae Sloe Hairstreak Polyommatus violetae Andalusian Anomalous Blue Colias chrysotheme Lesser Clouded Yellow Satyrium ledereri Orange-banded Hairstreak Freyeria trochylus (10) Grass Jewel Polyommatus humedasae Piedmont Anomalous Blue Colias aurorina Greek Clouded Yellow Polyommatus ripartii (15) Ripart's Anomalous Blue Colias caucasica Balkan Clouded Yellow Turanana taygetica Odd-spot Blue Polyommatus aroaniensis Grecian Anomalous Blue Colias hyale Pale Clouded Yellow Lampides boeticus Long-tailed Blue Polyommatus eleniae Phalakron Anomalous Blue Colias alfacariensis Berger's Clouded Yellow Kretania sephirus (11) (12) Zephyr Blue Polyommatus orphicus Kolev's Anomalous Blue Cacyreus marshalli Geranium Bronze Kretania trappi (11) (12) Alpine Zephyr Blue Polyommatus nephohiptamenos Higgins' Anomalous Blue Gonepteryx rhamni Brimstone Kretania hesperica (11) (12) Spanish Zephyr Blue Polyommatus dolus Furry Blue Gonepteryx farinosa Powdered Brimstone Leptotes pirithous Lang's Short-tailed Blue Kretania eurypilus (11) Eastern Brown Argus Polyommatus fulgens Catalonian Furry Blue Gonepteryx cleopatra Cleopatra Kretania psyloritus (11) Cretan Argus Polyommatus iphigenia Chelmos Blue Gonepteryx maderensis Madeiran Brimstone Azanus ubaldus Bright Babul Blue Polyommatus damon Damon Blue Gonepteryx cleobule Canary Brimstone Azanus jesous (8) African Babul Blue Plebejus argus Silver-studded Blue Plebejus idas Idas Blue Lysandra bellargus (13) Adonis Blue RIODINIDAE Cyclyrius webbianus Canary Blue Plebejus bellieri Bellier's Blue Lysandra coridon (13) Chalkhill Blue Hamearis lucina Duke of Burgundy Plebejus argyrognomon Reverdin's Blue Lysandra caelestissima (13) Azure Chalkhill Blue Tarucus theophrastus Common Tiger Blue Lysandra hispana (13) Provence Chalkhill Blue LYCAENIDAE Tarucus balkanicus Little Tiger Blue Plebejidea loewii (11) Loew's Blue Lysandra albicans (13) Spanish Chalkhill Blue Aphnaeinae Cigaritis acamas (6) Levantine Leopard Zizeeria knysna African Grass Blue (11) Cranberry Blue NYMPHALIDAE Zizeeria karsandra Dark Grass Blue Agriades pyrenaicus (11) Gavarnie Blue Libytheinae Agriades dardanus (11) Bosnian Blue Libythea celtis Nettle-tree Butterfly Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper Cupido minimus Small Blue (11) Glandon Blue Lycaena helle Violet Copper Cupido osiris Osiris Blue Agriades aquilo (11) Arctic Blue Lycaena dispar Large Copper Cupido lorquinii Lorquin's Blue Agriades zullichi (11) Zullich s Blue Argynnis paphia Silver-washed Fritillary Lycaena virgaureae Cupido argiades Short-tailed Blue Agriades orbitulus (11) Alpine´ Blue Argynnis pandora Cardinal Grecian Copper Cupido decoloratus Eastern Short-tailed Blue Argynnis aglaja Dark Green Fritillary Lycaena tityrus Sooty Copper Cupido alcetas Provençal Short-tailed Blue Eumedonia eumedon (11) Geranium Argus Argynnis adippe High Brown Fritillary Lycaena bleusei Iberian Sooty Copper Argynnis niobe Niobe Fritillary Lycaena alciphron Purple-shot Copper argiolus Blue Aricia cramera Southern Brown Argus Argynnis elisa Corsican Fritillary Lycaena hippothoe Purple-edged Copper Brown Argus Argynnis laodice Pallas' Fritillary Lycaena candens Balkan Copper Pseudophilotes baton Baton Blue Aricia artaxerxes Northern Brown Argus Lycaena thersamon Lesser Fiery Copper Pseudophilotes panoptes Panoptes Blue Aricia montensis Southern Mountain Argus Issoria lathonia Queen of Spain Fritillary Lycaena thetis Fiery Copper Pseudophilotes vicrama Eastern Baton Blue Aricia morronensis Spanish Argus Pseudophilotes abencerragus False Baton Blue Aricia anteros Blue Argus Brenthis ino Lesser Marbled Fritillary Theclinae Pseudophilotes barbagiae Sardinian Blue Aricia nicias Silvery Argus Brenthis daphne Marbled Fritillary Thecla betulae Brown Hairstreak Pseudophilotes bavius Bavius Blue Brenthis hecate Twin-spot Fritillary Cyaniris semiargus Mazarine Blue Favonius quercus Purple Hairstreak Scolitantides orion Chequered Blue Boloria eunomia Bog Fritillary Neolysandra coelestina (13) Pontic Blue Boloria euphrosyne Pearl-bordered Fritillary Laeosopis roboris Spanish Purple Hairstreak Glaucopsyche alexis Green-underside Blue Boloria titania Titania's Fritillary Glaucopsyche paphos Paphos Blue Polyommatus escheri Escher's Blue Boloria selene Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

46 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 47 Boloria chariclea Arctic Fritillary Melitaea britomartis Assmann's Fritillary Coenonympha leander Russian Heath Lorkovic's Brassy Ringlet Boloria freija Frejya’s Fritillary Melitaea asteria Little Fritillary Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath Common Brassy Ringlet Boloria dia Weaver's Fritillary Melitaea athalia Heath Fritillary Coenonympha thyrsis Cretan Small Heath Erebia arvernensis (20) Western Brassy Ringlet Boloria polaris Polar Fritillary Melitaea nevadensis (18) Erebia neleus (20) Boloria thore Thor's Fritillary Pyronia tithonus Gatekeeper Erebia hispania Spanish Brassy Ringlet Boloria frigga Frigga's Fritillary Limenitidinae Pyronia cecilia Southern Gatekeeper Pyrenees Brassy Ringlet Boloria improba Dusky-winged Fritillary Limenitis populi Poplar Admiral Pyronia bathseba Spanish Gatekeeper Erebia pronoe Boloria pales Shepherd's Fritillary Limenitis camilla White Admiral Erebia lefebvrei Lefèbvre’s Ringlet Boloria napaea Mountain Fritillary Limenitis reducta Southern White Admiral Aphantopus hyperantus Ringlet Erebia scipio Larche Ringlet Boloria aquilonaris Cranberry Fritillary Erebia stiria Styrian Ringlet Boloria graeca Balkan Fritillary Neptis sappho Common Glider Maniola telmessia Aegean Meadow Brown Erebia styx Stygian Ringlet Neptis rivularis Hungarian Glider Maniola cypricola Cyprus Meadow Brown Erebia montana Marbled Ringlet Maniola halicarnassus Thomson's Meadow Brown Erebia zapateri Zapater's Ringlet Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral Charaxinae Maniola nurag Sardinian Meadow Brown Erebia neoridas Autumn Ringlet Vanessa vulcania Canary Red Admiral Charaxes jasius Two-tailed Pasha Maniola chia Chios Meadow Brown Erebia melas Black Ringlet Vanessa cardui Painted Lady Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown Erebia oeme Bright-eyed Ringlet Vanessa virginiensis American Painted Lady Apaturinae Maniola megala Turkish Meadow Brown Erebia meolans Apatura metis Freyer's Purple Emperor Erebia palarica Chapman's Ringlet Aglais io Peacock Apatura ilia Lesser Purple Emperor Hyponephele lycaon Dusky Meadow Brown Erebia pandrose Dewy Ringlet Aglais urticae Small Tortoiseshell Apatura iris Purple Emperor Hyponephele lupina Oriental Meadow Brown False Dewy Ringlet Aglais ichnusa Corsican Small Tortoiseshell Danainae Proterebia phegea (19) Dalmatian Ringlet Melanargia russiae Esper's Marbled White Polygonia c-album Comma Danaus chrysippus Plain Tiger Melanargia galathea Marbled White Polygonia egea Southern Comma Danaus plexippus Monarch Erebia ligea Arran Brown Melanargia lachesis Iberian Marbled White Large Ringlet Melanargia larissa Balkan Marbled White Araschnia levana Map Satyrinae Erebia eriphyle Eriphyle Ringlet Melanargia arge Italian Marbled White Kirinia roxelana Lattice Brown Erebia manto Yellow-spotted Ringlet Melanargia occitanica Western Marbled White Nymphalis antiopa Camberwell Beauty Kirinia climene Lesser Lattice Brown Erebia claudina White-speck Ringlet Melanargia pherusa Sicilian Marbled White Nymphalis polychloros Large Tortoiseshell Erebia flavofasciata Yellow-banded Ringlet Melanargia ines Spanish Marbled White Nymphalis xanthomelas Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Erebia epiphron Mountain Ringlet Nymphalis vaualbum False Comma Pararge xiphioides Canary Speckled Wood Erebia orientalis Bulgarian Ringlet Satyrus ferula Great Sooty Satyr Pararge xiphia Madeiran Speckled Wood Erebia christi Rätzer's Ringlet Satyrus actaea Black Satyr Euphydryas iduna Lapland Fritillary Erebia pharte Blind Ringlet Euphydryas cynthia Cynthia's Fritillary Wall Brown Erebia melampus Lesser Mountain Ringlet Minois dryas Dryad Euphydryas intermedia Asian Fritillary Lasiommata paramegaera Corsican Wall Brown Erebia sudetica Sudeten Ringlet Euphydryas maturna Scarce Fritillary Lasiommata petropolitana Northern Wall Brown Erebia aethiops Woodland Grayling Euphydryas desfontainii Spanish Fritillary Lasiommata maera Large Wall Brown Erebia triaria de Prunner's Ringlet Rock Grayling Euphydryas aurinia Marsh Fritillary Erebia embla Lapland Ringlet Eastern Rock Grayling Euphydryas beckeri (16) Lopinga achine Woodland Brown Erebia disa Arctic Ringlet Corsican Grayling Erebia medusa Woodland Ringlet Hipparchia aristaeus Southern Grayling Melitaea cinxia Glanville Fritillary Ypthima asterope African Ringlet Erebia polaris Arctic Woodland Ringlet Hipparchia senthes Balkan Grayling Melitaea phoebe Knapweed Fritillary -eyed Ringlet Hipparchia cretica Cretan Grayling Melitaea ornata (17) Eastern Knapweed Fritillary Coenonympha tullia Large Heath Erebia pluto Hipparchia semele Grayling Melitaea aetherie Aetherie Fritillary Coenonympha oedippus False Ringlet Erebia gorge Hipparchia leighebi Eolian Grayling Melitaea arduinna Freyer's Fritillary Coenonympha rhodopensis Eastern Large Heath Erebia rhodopensis Nicholl's Ringlet Hipparchia sbordonii Ponza Grayling Melitaea trivia Lesser Spotted Fritillary Coenonympha arcania Pearly Heath Erebia aethiopella False Mnestra Ringlet Hipparchia neapolitana Italian Grayling Melitaea didyma Spotted Fritillary Coenonympha glycerion Chestnut Heath Erebia mnestra Mnestra's Ringlet Hipparchia blachieri Sicilian Grayling False Heath Fritillary Coenonympha gardetta Alpine Heath Erebia gorgone Gavarnie Ringlet Hipparchia mersina Samos Grayling Melitaea deione Provençal Fritillary Coenonympha orientalis Balkan Heath Spring Ringlet Hipparchia volgensis Delattin's Grayling Melitaea varia Grisons Fritillary Coenonympha corinna Corsican Heath Ottoman Brassy Ringlet Hipparchia christenseni Karpathos Grayling Melitaea parthenoides Meadow Fritillary Coenonympha dorus Dusky Heath Swiss Brassy Ringlet Hipparchia pellucida Lesbos Grayling Melitaea aurelia Nickerl's Fritillary Coenonympha hero Scarce Heath De Lesse's Brassy Ringlet Hipparchia cypriensis Cyprus Grayling

48 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterflies INEUROPE 49 Tree Grayling FOOTNOTES Contact details Hipparchia fatua Freyer's Grayling (1) split from S. sertorius Hipparchia fidia Striped Grayling (2) formerly P. bellieri Chairman: Simon Spencer Hipparchia maderensis Madeiran Grayling Email: [email protected] Azores Grayling (3) split from Z. polyxena Tel No: 01691 648339 Hipparchia miguelensis Le Cerf's Grayling (4) split from I. podalirius Vice-Chairman/Secretary: Mike Prentice Hipparchia wyssii Canary Grayling (5) new species within group Email: [email protected] Hipparchia bacchus Tel No: 07831 280259 Hipparchia gomera (6) formerly genus Apharitis Hipparchia tilosi Membership Secretary: Anne Spencer (7) rediscovered in Romania in 2014 Email: [email protected] Hipparchia tamadabae (8) addition: seems to be established in Cadiz, S Spain Tel No: 01691 648339

Arethusana arethusa False Grayling (9) split from I. iolas Treasurer: Dudley Cheesman Email: [email protected] (10) formerly genus Chilades Brintesia circe Great Banded Grayling Tel No: 01458 251451 (11) formerly genus Plebejus Newsletter Editor: Nigel Peace Chazara briseis The Hermit (12) Kretania pylaon with which these species were Email: [email protected] Chazara prieuri Southern Hermit Tel No: 01420 85496 formerly lumped occurs east of our area BC Europe liaison: Paul Kirkland (13) formerly genus Polyommatus Pseudochazara geyeri Grey Asian Grayling Email: [email protected] Pseudochazara graeca Grecian Grayling (14) split from P. icarus Tel No: 01786 447753 Pseudochazara amymone Brown's Grayling (15) includes galloi Pseudochazara orestes Dils' Grayling Pseudochazara mercurius (21) Nevada Grayling (16) split from E. aurinia Other Committee Members: Martin Davies Pseudochazara tisiphone (22) Dark Grayling (17) not M.telona Pseudochazara cingovskii Macedonian Grayling Email: [email protected] (18) split from M. athalia. Replacement name for celadussa Pseudochazara anthelea White-banded Grayling Nick Greatorex-Davies Pseudochazara amalthea (23) (19) formerly P. afer Email: [email protected]

(20) split from E. cassioides Roger Gibbons Oeneis norna Norse Grayling Email: [email protected] (21) formerly P. hippolyte Oeneis bore Arctic Grayling Marian Thomas Oeneis glacialis Alpine Grayling (22) not P. mniszechii Email: [email protected] Oeneis jutta Baltic Grayling (23) split from P. anthelea Bernard Watts Email:[email protected] Thanks are due to Rudi Verovnik and his committee for preparation of this list. The full committee comprised Mike Williams Rudi Verovnik, Emilio Balletto, Vlad Dinca, Zdenek Fric, Gerardo Lamas, Vladimir Lukhtanov, Miguel Munguira, Email: [email protected] Chris van Swaay, Roger Vila, Albert Vliegenthart, Niklas Wahlberg, and Martin Wiemers.

EIG WEBSITE: www.bc-eig.org.uk Nigel Peace (Editor) Website content: Jude Lock May 2017 Email: [email protected]

EIG Facebook Page: Matt Berry and Valerie Penny Email: [email protected]

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50 EIG Anniversary Magazine MAY 2017 Butterfly Conservation’s European Membership Interests Group (EIG) promotes the The EIG currently has more than enjoyment, conservation and study 400 members. A members’ day is of butterflies, moths and their held annually, sometimes jointly EUROPEAN habitats in Europe. Our mandate with another Butterfly Conserva- INTERESTS GROUP is as follows: tion Branch. • To circulate information on EIG is a branch of Butterfly European butterflies and moths to Conservation and as such member- members and partners in Europe. ship of EIG is only open to mem- bers of Butterfly Conservation. To encourage recording of • An additional subscription of butterflies and moths in Europe £10 is payable at the time of a and facilitate contact with record- member's normal subscription ing schemes and encourage the renewal. For more details, see local atlases that are planned in Butterfly Conservation’s website several parts of Europe. butterfly-conservation.org. • To publicise the plight of For people who are resident in butterflies and moths in Europe Europe and do not have a local where changes in agriculture, BC Branch they can have EIG as particularly land abandonment, their local branch if they join are a huge threat. Butterfly Conservation, in which • To help set up projects with case they do not need to pay the partners in Europe. additional £10. • To provide a skilled volunteer resource for European nature Butterfly Conservation Europe (BCE) conservation organisations such The EIG maintains close links with as national parks. Butterfly Conservation Europe (www.bc-europe.eu), a partnership To assist the work of Butterfly • organisation comprising Butterfly Conservation Europe (BCE) and act Conservation and representatives as ambassadors for BC in Europe of most other European countries. with partner organisations. BCE seeks to influence EU policies • To work with partner organisa- and to secure funding to under- tions in lobbying in Europe. take work focused on halting and reversing the decline of butterflies, EIG website: moths and their habitats through- http://www.bc-eig.org.uk out Europe. The EIG website is updated regu- A major aim is to collect data larly. In addition to news features, online via its webpage www.but- it contains a wealth of information terfly-recording.eu. Other projects about butterflies in individual include rare species surveys, countries, and a listing of tour identifying prime butterfly areas operators who provide butterfly and advising on policy. holidays.

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