Distribution and Range Extension of the Speckled Wood Butterfly (Parage Aegeria L.;Lepidoptera, Satyridae) in Lithuania

Abstract

Thorough data on the localities of the occurrence of the speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) in Lithuania are presented. The data comprise the period from 1919, the year when this species was found in the country for the first time, till 1998. In total, 33 localities of the occurrence of the speckled wood butterfly have been found in eleven administrative districts of Lithuania (Akmenė, Jonava, Joniskis, Kėdainiai, Mažeikiai, Pakruojis, Panevėžys, Siauliai, Silalė, Ukmergė and Vilkaviskis districts). Distribution maps of this butterfly species were compiled using the UTM system with 10 × 10-km grid. On the basis of these data, we may conclude that the population of the speckled wood butterfly is increasing in Lithuania. Since suitable but still unoccupied biotopes as well as host plants for the speckled wood butterfly are abundant in Lithuania, the climate and its changes can be very important factors in the population dynamics of this species. Thus, P. aegeria could be used as a biological indicato...