Buprestis splendens (Fabricius, 1774) (Coleoptera Buprestidae) on the Calabrian side of the "Parco Nazionale del Pollino" (Calabria, Italy): distribution and ecological observation

Buprestis splendens (Fabricius, 1774) (Coleoptera Buprestidae) is a rare European chorotype species, threatened throughout its distribution by global climate change, forest fires and the capture of specimens by collectors. To date, in Italy, its presence was only known in a few areas on the Lucanian side of the massif of Pollino. This report records the first, reliable sightings of its presence on the Calabrian side of the Pollino and in the mountains of Orsomarso. It also makes observations on its environment and the factors that put its survival at risk

Il genere Hipparchia Fabricius, 1807 in provincia di Siena (Toscana meridionale) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

The genus Hipparchia Fabricius, 1807 in the province of Siena is represented by three species: Hipparchia fagi (Scopoli, 1763), Hipparchia semele (Linnaeus, 1758) e Hipparchia statilinus (Hufnagel, 1766). Hipparchia fagi is widespread; attends mostly woods, between a minimum of 150 m up to 895 m altitude, with flight time between the first fortnight of June and the first fortnight of October. Hipparchia semele is poorly distributed; attends mostly natural grasslands and pastures, between a minimum of 290 m and a maximum of 1015 m above sea level, with flight time between the second fortnight of June and the second fortnight of September. Hipparchia statilinus is widespread; attends mostly woods and natural grasslands, between a minimum of 170 m and a maximum of 1148 m above sea level, with flight time between the second fortnight of June and the first fortnight of October. At present, no risk factors are known to threaten these species in the Siena district. For the protection of their populations it is suggested to keep the woods, the prairies and the meadows-pastures

Il genere Carcharodus Hübner, 1819 in provincia di Siena (Toscana)

The genus Carcharodus Hübner, 1819 in the province of Siena is represented by three species: Carcharodus alceae (Esper, [1780]), Carcharodus floccifer (Zeller, 1847) and Carcharodus lavatherae (Esper, [1783]). C. alceae is widespread; attends mostly natural grasslands and pastures, between a minimum of 165 m and up to 890 m altitude, with flight time between the first two weeks of April and the first fortnight of October. C. flocciferus is poorly distributed; attends mostly natural grasslands and pastures, between a minimum of 165 m and a maximum of 850 m above sea level, with flight time between the first two weeks of May and the first fortnight of October. C. lavatherae is rare; attends mostly natural grasslands and pastures, between a minimum of 165 m and a maximum of 750 m altitude, with flight time between the first two weeks of May and the first two weeks of August. For the protection of the populations of these species, it is advisable to keep natural grasslands, pastures, fallow plots and marginal areas, such as road and railway embankments, disused quarries, former industrial land and bands of respect of cemeteries

Le praterie xerocalcicole della Toscana meridionale, habitat di rilevante interesse per la fauna a Ropaloceri

We studied the Lepidoptera Rhopalocera of calcareous grasslands of southern Tuscany, habitats of community interest in conservation priorities in accordance with Directive 92/43/EEC. Were examined six areas in the provinces of Livorno (Monte Calvi), Siena (Le Cornate and Monte Cetona) and Grosseto (Monte Calvo, Le Cornate, Monte Labbro and Monte Civitella) with significant extensions of grasslands (> 15 ha). The study showed that these grasslands are important areas for lepidotterofauna hosting 108 species of which 25 (23.1%) of conservation interest. In particular the Monte Calvo, Le Cornate, Monte Labbro, Monte Cetona and Monte Civitella are distinguished by 156 the presence of rich populations of “target species” Maculinea arion (Linné, 1758) and Melanargia arge (Sulzer, 1776) justifying their inclusion among the “Prime Butterfly Areas”. Even xerocalcicole grasslands of southern Tuscany as European ones are gradually reducing, and in few years could disappear. For their maintenance is suggested the application of management standards including: the recovery of extensive grazing and planning by calculating the “carrying capacity”; alternating grazing areas with annual rest areas; mowing the grass vegetation through haymaking diluted over time of limited surfaces; the reduction of herbaceous vegetation by means of controlled winter burns; the limitation of the development of shrubs through periodic cuts

I Ropaloceri del Monte Amiata (Toscana)

Twenty five years of research (1994-2019) on the rhopaloceran fauna of the Monte Amiata, integrated with bibliographical sources, showed 89 species. The most numerous species are those that live in the forests, those linked to the edges of the woods and those that prefer high-hill and mountain areas. The most significant species for conservation value, biogeographical interest and because they are not so frequent elsewhere in Tuscany and in Italy, are Hamearis lucina (Linnaeus, 1758), Satyrium w-album (Knoch, 1782), Cupido argiades (Pallas, 1771), Argynnis pandora ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) and Brenthis hecate ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Località di raccolta inedite di Satyrium w-album (Knoch, 1782) in Toscana

The new records relate to twenty-two localities, eight of which are in the province of Siena, four in the province of Grosseto, three of Arezzo and Florence, two of Massa Carrara, one of Livorno and one of Pisa. The localities are located inside or at the edge of wooded areas, from a minimum of 45 m to a maximum of 915 m above sea level. The flight period is between the second fortnight of May and the first fortnight of August, with a maximum of observations in June (59,1% of cases). Since it is an uncommon species that lives in habitat in progressive alteration by humans, S. w-album is believed to be threatened in Tuscany

Ulteriori dati sulla distribuzione in Toscana di Ropaloceri poco noti o di interesse conservazionistico (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionidae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae)

New records are reported of Zerynthia cassandra (Geyer, 1828), Hamearis lucina (Linnaeus, 1758), Thecla betulae (Linnaeus, 1758), Phengaris arion (Linnaeus, 1758), Lysandra hispana (HerrichSchäffer, 1851), Brenthis hecate ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Boloria dia (Linnaeus, 1767), Apatura ilia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Libythea celtis (Laicharting, [1782]), Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Melanargia arge (Sulzer, 1776), Ropalocerans uncommon or of conservation interest in Tuscany. These records contribute to the Tuscan distribution of these species and in some cases are the first reports for the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) established pursuant to Directive 92/43 / EEC

Saproxylic beetles of conservation interest in the Calabrian side of the Pollino National Park (Calabria, Italia): Lucanus tetraodon Thunberg, 1806, Osmoderma italicum Sparacio, 2000, Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 and Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera Lucanidae Cetoniidae Cerambycidae)

In this article an update on the distribution of Coleoptera Lucanus tetraodon Thunberg, 1806 (Lucanidae), Osmoderma italicum Sparacio, 2000 (Cetoniidae), Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 and Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cerambycidae) in the Calabrian side of the Pollino National Park is described. Data regarding the ecological part and the conservation status will be presented for each species. Therefore, of particular interest it can be noted: the presence in nine locations of L. tetraodon, an uncommon species and with little-known distribution; the discreet diffusion of O. italicum, rare and with a very restricted area, found in thirteen locations up to over 1800 m of altitude; C. cerdo for the Calabrian side of the National Park of Pollino; the first data for the presence of R. alpina at 1900 m altitude, the highest recorded in Italy and the discovery of larval stages on Italian alder (Alnus cordata), never ascertained in Italy. The Pollino National Park is confirmed as one of the areas of greatest national importance for the conservation of these xylophagous species linked to old forests

The decline of the charismatic Parnassius mnemosyne (L.) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in a Central Italy national park: a call for urgent actions

Here we report the strong decline of a population of the endangered species Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in the National Park of Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna (Italy). We compared historical presence data (before 1969) with current data from two years of monitoring (2018–2019) and provided evidence of a drastic reduction in the number of sites inhabited by the species. A preliminary assessment suggested that the population of P. mmemosyne occurring in the Park is limited to a few individuals. We argue that the population of this iconic and charismatic butterfly is at the verge of extinction in this National Park, probably because of a combination of habitat loss (i.e. decrease in size and number of areas of open grassland on the mountain belt) and climatic changes. Being one of the few populations of P. mnemosyne in the Northern Apennines, the implementation of protection measures is a high conservation priority. Several other butterfly species on the Italian mountains that are facing the same survival challenges would also benefit from the establishment of conservation actions aimed at improving habitat quality for P. mnemosyne. Present article is meant to call for action researchers, stakeholders, and especially decision-makers in order to increase the efforts to upturn the evident decline in abundance of this population

The decline of the charismatic Parnassius mnemosyne (L.) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in a central italy national park: A call for urgent actions

Here we report the strong decline of a population of the endangered species Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in the National Park of Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna (Italy). We compared historical presence data (before 1969) with current data from two years of monitoring (2018–2019) and provided evidence of a drastic reduction in the number of sites inhabited by the species. A preliminary assessment suggested that the population of P. mmemosyne occurring in the Park is limited to a few individuals. We argue that the population of this iconic and charismatic butterfly is at the verge of extinction in this National Park, probably because of a combination of habitat loss (i.e. decrease in size and number of areas of open grassland on the mountain belt) and climatic changes. Being one of the few populations of P. mnemosyne in the Northern Apennines, the implementation of protection measures is a high conservation priority. Several other butterfly species on the Italian mountains that are facing the same survival challenges would also benefit from the establishment of conservation actions aimed at improving habitat quality for P. mnemosyne. Present article is meant to call for action researchers, stakeholders, and especially decision-makers in order to increase the efforts to upturn the evident decline in abundance of this population