WBA HANDBOOKS 4 BUTTERFLIES AND BURNETS OF THE ALPS and their larvae, pupae and cocoons PAOLO PAOLUCCI Supporting Institutions © World Biodiversity Association onlus, Verona - Italy WBA HANDBOOKS 4 - Butterflies and Burnets of the Alps ISSN 1973-7815 ISBN 978-88-903323-3-3 Editorial Board: Ludivina Barrientos-Lozano, Ciudad Victoria (Mexico), Achille Casale, Sassari (Italy), Mauro Daccordi, Verona (Italy), Pier Mauro Giachino, Torino (Italy), Laura Guidolin, Padova (Italy), Roy Kleukers, Leiden (Holland), Bruno Massa, Palermo (Italy), Giovanni Onore, Quito (Ecuador), Giuseppe Bartolomeo Osella, l’Aquila (Italy), Stewart B. Peck, Ottawa (Canada), Fidel Alejandro Roig, Mendoza (Argentina), José Maria Salgado Costas, Leon (Spain), Mauro Tretiach, Trieste (Italy), Dante Vailati, Brescia (Italy) Editor-in-chief: dr. Pier Mauro Giachino Managing Editor: dr. Gianfranco Caoduro Make up: Paolo Paolucci Cover graphic: Paolo Paolucci Front cover: Parnassius apollo Back cover: Zygaena carniolica Printed in Italy Responsible Director: Simone Bellini - Authorization n. 116753 - 08/06/2006 Suggested bibliographical citation: Paolucci P., 2013. Butterflies and Burnets of the Alps and their larvae, pupae and cocoons. WBA Handbooks, 4, Verona: 1-480. All rights reserved Reproduction prohibited without permission of the copyright owner FOREWORD Of all the insects, butterflies are surely the most popular due to their wide range of colours, elegance and delicacy. They are not only a symbol of nature’s beauty but also by their presence indicators of the health and integrity of environmental habitats. Over the last thirty years scientists have alerted us to the fact that human activities are causing a dramatic decline in world biodiversity. Butterflies too are rapidly declining and more so than in other groups such as birds or amphibians. Therefore, butterflies can be useful in defining quality of natural environments as well as climate changes. Lepidoptera have been considered for decades as early warning bioindicators of environmental health. In fact, they have high sensitivity to pollutants, wide distribution, limited mobility (for example the Zygaenidae) and short life-cycles sensible to environmental changes. Moreover, butterflies can be easily observed in most habitats, from highest peaks to the cultivated plains. Lepidopterists say that recently the majority of European butterflies are decreasing in numbers, threatened by destruction of their habitats, landscape fragmentation and climate changes. For these reasons, I think the publication of this book, dedicated to the butterflies and burnets moths of the Alps, is very timely. In these pages is a complete report on each of the 281 species considered, which includes: distribution, habitat, altitudinal range, altitudinal zonation, flight period, host plants, myrmecophily, similar species, fore-wing length, larvae, pupae, cocoons and IUCN’s threatened status. The precision and exhaustivity of the data provided not only make this book an updated inventory of the butterflies of the alpine region, but also offer an important aid for conservation planning. Moreover, keys to the families and some genera, make this book an excellent guide for both beginners and more experienced naturalists. Another relevant use for this book is related to the identification of the butterfly species in biomonitoring programs and in the sustainable management of the Alpine Natura 2000 sites. So, for all these reasons, I would like to thank Paolo Paolucci, the author of this remarkable work, for having chosen the World Biodiversity Association as editor of his book; I’m sure this volume will provide a window on the world of butterflies for researchers, the general public and in particular the younger generation, in the hands of whom rests the future of our planet. Gianfranco Caoduro Chairman of the World Biodiversity Association There is hardly any other group of insects that has captured so much attention as the butterflies and moths. And quite rightfully so! Their beauty, liveliness and variety makes them one of the most recognizable elements of nature. They are harbingers of spring and accompany us right through summer and into the late autumn days. They are enjoyed by casual observers as well as a growing number of butterfly lovers who dedicate their free time or even careers observing, photographing, researching, and documenting them in nature. These activities have now largely surpassed the formerly popular collecting, although scientifically managed collections are still indispensable when it comes to taxonomic studies. In recent decades, butterflies and moths have been recognized as biodiversity indicators, meaning that their well-being indicates a stabile healthy environment for majority of other terrestrial animals and plants. However, strong declines in distribution and abundance of butterflies have been recorded throughout Europe. The main reasons for the negative trend are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by increasing human interference. In butterflies and burnets in particular, abandonment of traditional farming is another increasingly important factor, as overgrown meadows gradually become unsuitable for many specialist grassland species. Alps, the backbone of Europe, are the largest mountainous landscape in central Europe. Due to rugged terrain and high altitudes this region largely escaped the intensive farming and urbanization, therefore it represents one of the most important reservoirs of butterfly diversity on the Continent. Many of them are confined to the Alps, or are extremely rare elsewhere. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats from hot valleys influenced by the neighborhood of the Mediterranean to the tops of the highest peaks where rocks and ice dominate the landscape. This great butterfly diversity is well captured in the illustrations of this guide and together with identification keys provide all essential information for identification of the species present in the Alps. Rough distribution maps and ecological parameters provide additional guidance which should motivate butterfly enthusiasts to visit this particularly rich region. Brunets are a logical and useful extension of this book, as they commonly fly together with butterflies and are easily approachable and recognizable. The guide should serve as motivation for enjoying nature and these fragile and rapidly vanishing creatures. Rudi Verovnik Society for the Conservation and Study of Lepidoptera in Slovenia CONTENTS CONTENTS Introduction 7 How to use this guide 9 Key to the Families and some genera 15 Hesperiidae 20 Key to the Hesperiidae 20 Key to the genus Pyrgus 23 Papilionidae 56 Key to the Papilionidae 56 Pieridae 57 Key to the subfamilies Pierinae and Dismorphinae 65 Key to the subfamily Pierinae 65 Key to the genus Colias 87 Riodinidae 100 Lycaenidae 101 Key to the genus Lycaena 101 Key to the subfamily Theclinae 114 Key to the Polyommatinae 128 Key to the Blue Polyommatinae 129 Key to the Brown Polyommatinae 138 Ground colours table 146 Nymphalidae 196 Key to the genus Argynnis 197 Key to the genera Brenthis and Boloria 204 Key to the genus Brenthis 204 Key to the genus Boloria 204 Key to the genera Melitaea and Euphydryas 229 Key to the subfamily Satyrinae 260 Key to the genus Coenonympha 273 Key to the genus Erebia 293 Zygaenidae 353 Key to the genus Zygaena 353 Larvae, pupae and cocoons 390 Chiavi per famiglie e generi 435 5 CONTENTS Glossary 459 Bibliography 460 Acknowledgement 462 Scientific index 463 Vernacular index 468 The author 477 6 INTRODUCTION I would like to dedicate this book to prof. Sergio Zangheri INTRODUCTION The Alps are the most important This guide illustrates the 254 spe- chain of mountains in Europe. They cies of Butterflies (Hesperioidea and stretch from east to west for 1300 km Papilionoidea) and the 27 species of and, according to the SOIUSA (Inter- Burnets (Zygaena) - and several subspe- national Unified Orographic Division cies, forms and variety - that have so far of the Alpine System), they are included been observed in the Alps – considered in 8 countries: Hungary (Stirian Pre- as a geographical identity; species from Alps, about 100 km2 in the province of all altitudes have been taken into con- Sopron), Northern Slovenia, Austria, sideration, and not only the ones from Southern Germany, Northern Italy, the high mountains. To make this guide Switzerland, Liechtenstein and South- complete, 8 further species of butterflies Eastern France. The highest peak is and burnets from the margins of the Al- Mont Blanc at 4810 m, but there are pine range (Dinaric Alps, Provence, Côte many other peaks between 3800 and d’Azur) have been taken into considera- 4500 m. Three main groups are to be tion. The burnets - a small family of day- divided in geographical terms: Eastern flying Lepidoptera that are similar to Alps, stretching from their origin to other moths - have also been included in Brenner Pass, Central Alps, from Bren- this guide, as they are commonly found ner Pass to Col Ferret, Western Alps, in these areas. They are active during the from Col Ferret to Colle di Cadibona. day, easy to observe and they often share their habitat with many butterflies. From the point of view of their fauna, the Alps represent a very important reser- Every single species has been dedicat- voir of biodiversity with a number of en- ed a file with concise information about demic species, among which there are at their distribution, the altitudes they get least 20 species of butterflies and a higher to, their habitat, the host plants, their number of species that can only be found flight-period and other biological details. in these mountains and in few other For most of the species this guide also mountain areas in Europe, together with presents a set of pictures of the larvae, boreo-alpine areas. They have a rather the pupae and the cocoons, enriched by limited distribution, only on the Alps and short captions on their distinctive char- to the most northern regions of Europe. acteristics. Many of the butterflies and 7 INTRODUCTION of the burnets of the Alps can be easily and for some genera that show various identified without being caught.