Coenonympha Oedippus Research Articles

We began a targeted study of the entomofauna of the Chelyabinsk and Kashtak forests in 2007, and in the period from 2010 to 2023 were carried out regularly from spring (May) to autumn (September), annually performing from 5 to 10 expedition trips. In addition, after the publication in 2017 of the second edition of the Red Data Book of the Chelyabinsk Region, we also conducted annual monitoring of the status of populations of protected, rare, and vulnerable species throughout the region. The purpose of this work is to highlight the main results of the study of protected, rare and some little-known insects living in the territories of the natural monuments «Chelyabinsk (urban) forest» and «Kashtaksky forest». The material was collected along regular routes and key areas, including water bodies (streams, rivers, ponds, temporary reservoirs) and coastal biotopes. The length of the routes, depending on weather conditions and specific tasks, ranged from 3 to 15 km. They covered almost all the most typical types of communities, incl. partially transformed by man. We used manual collection, catching using a mowing net, air and water entomological nets. The abundance was determined by adults by direct counting the number of individuals per unit area (within 1 hectare) or count strip. 18 regional Red Data Book species have been identified, belonging to 10 families and 6 orders: in the Chelyabinsk forest there are 12 species from 9 families and 6 orders, in the Kashtak forest there are 11 species from 7 families and 4 orders. These are three species of status category II (declining in numbers) – Anax imperator, Bombus maculidorsis, B. pratorum, 14 species of status category III (rare) – Ophiogomphus cecilia, Leucorhynia caudalis, Sago pedo, Ranatra linearis, Parnassius apollo, Bombus distinquendus, B. hypnorum, B. lucorum, B. muscorum, B. serrisquama, B. terrestris, B. veteranus, Megachila rotundata, Bombylius major and one species of status category IV (uncertain status) – Laphria gibbosa. We classified 26 species from 15 families and 7 orders as rare and little-known (little studied). We consider Anas parthenope, Aeschna isosceles, Decticus verrucivorus, Meloe proscarabaeus, Iphiclides podalirius, Pieris brassicae, Glaucopsyche alexis, Apatura iris, Limenitis camilla, L. populi, Euphydryas maturna, Vanessa atalanta, Aglia tau, Oeneis tarpeja, rare. Megarhyssa perlata, Rhyssa persuasoria, Conops flavifrons. Little-known species, the biology and ecology of which have not been sufficiently studied (not only in forest conditions) are Libellula fulva, Sympetrum pedemontanum, Scaphidium quadrimaculatum, Ostoma ferruginea, Peltis grossa, Raphidia ophiopsis, Coenonympha hero. The only possible inhabitants of the Chelyabinsk Forest are the Chazara briseis and the Coenonympha oedippus, but this seems doubtful. A considerable number of «Red Data Book» species indicates that today, despite experiencing significant anthropogenic impact, our forests are still reserves of biodiversity and provide the necessary conditions for life even for species included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (2021): Anax imperator (category 5), Saga pedo (category 2), Parnassius apollo (category 2). Seven species living in forests are also protected in regions neighboring the Chelyabinsk region – in the Republic of Bashkortostan (3 species), Kurgan (6), Orenburg (2), Sverdlovsk (3) regions.

Abstract In this study, we focus on Coenonympha oedippus, an endangered butterfly species protected under Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive. Predominantly inhabiting semi‐open wet grasslands across Europe, this species also occupies abandoned sub‐Mediterranean dry grasslands. Ecological distinctiveness in its habitat use is reflected in differences in larval host plants, wing morphology and genetic composition, resulting in two ecotypes: wet and dry. Notably, by 2018, only one population of the wet ecotype survived in Slovenia, necessitating reintroduction as a critical strategy to avert its national extinction. Building on our conservation objectives, we implemented a 5‐year project (2018–2022) to develop protocols for source individual and substrate collection, ex situ breeding in semi‐natural conditions, thorough release and post‐release monitoring. Our efforts included breeding from 18 females, yielding 754 eggs in a breeding house. From these, we successfully reared and released 460 individuals, comprising 419 pupae and 41 butterflies. The project culminated with promising outcomes: the reintroduced population exhibited an 87% growth rate, while the source population, following its last reinforcement, showed a 79% increase. The project success can be attributed to a comprehensive understanding of species' ecological requirements and the establishment of a long‐term management plan. Key to our approach was adaptive management, which allowed for flexibility and refinement of protocols during implementation. Meticulous documentation and evaluation of all project activities were instrumental, culminating in the production of standardised annual reports. Additionally, the project was bolstered by strong collaboration among scientists, site managers, government agencies and national media.

In Slovenia the False ringlet Coenonympha oedippus uniquely occurs both on wet (Ljubljana Marsh and surroundings) and dry grasslands (Slovenian Istria, Karst, Gorica Hills). Natural hazards that threaten its habitats include fires and floods; the frequency of their occurrence in the former and existing habitats of C. oedippus was determined using the χ2-test. We showed that habitats on wet grasslands are less threatened by fire than those on dry grasslands. Among the latter, habitats in the Karst and Slovenian Istria are the most threatened. Habitats of C. oedippus are threatened by flooding only in Slovenian Istria and Ljubljana Marsh. Considering the extent of fire and flood risk and fragmentation of C. oedippus habitats in Slovenia, we assume that such natural hazards may lead to local extinction of the species.

The Slovenian False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus populations are under serious threat, as in the last two decades have witnessed a sharp decline in population distribution and size due to destruction, fragmentation and/or habitat quality degradation through intensive agriculture, abandonment of use and urbanization. We investigated the genetic diversity and structure of C. oedippus from the entire range of the species in Slovenia. Our results showed that the genetic variation in the Slovenian C. oedippus populations agrees with the geographical structure and the ecotypes previously determined by morphological and ecological data. We confirmed the existence of four genetically divergent and spatially non-overlapping geographical groups (Istria, Karst, Gorica, Ljubljansko barje) and two ecotypes ("wet" and "dry"). Despite small sample sizes due to critically threatened species, the results indicated significant nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity within the spatial groups. By gaining new insights into the evolutionary history of the C. oedippus population, we have recommended to consider the Slovenian population as one Evolutionary Significant Unit, and four spatial populations as Management Units for conservation purposes.

Abstract Maintenance of traditional cultural landscapes largely depends on traditional agricultural practices, which are nowadays in decline as a result of increasingly intensive and mechanised land use. Losing traditional practices may result in impoverishing of picturesque mosaic landscape and biodiversity. This research focuses on land-use changes in two time periods (2002–2008; 2013–2016) and effects of changes reflecting on populations of critically endangered butterfly. False Ringlet, Coenonympha oedippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), is a habitat specialist, which in Slovenia inhabits two geographically distinct contrasting habitats – dry meadows in south-western and wetlands in central Slovenia. We compared nine environmental parameters to assess environmental differences, which shape species habitat; seven parameters significantly differ among the four geographical regions and five among the two habitat types. Four parameters significantly differ (i.e. at least in two regions) when tested for homogeneity, while in dry habitat type all (except slope) were significant and none in wet habitat. Changes in land use in two studied periods lit up two processes: transformation of meadows into agricultural land and overgrowing of the meadows, both processes affecting species severely. We believe that maintaining of traditional landscapes in future could serve as a good conservation practice for this endangered species.

Red Lists are very valuable tools in nature conservation at global, continental and (sub-) national scales. In an attempt to prioritise conservation actions for European butterflies, we compiled a database with species lists and Red Lists of all European countries, including the Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands). In total, we compiled national species lists for 42 countries and national Red Lists for 34 of these. The most species-rich countries in Europe are Italy, Russia and France with more than 250 species each. Endemic species are mainly found on the Macaronesian archipelagos and on the Mediterranean islands. By attributing numerical values proportionate to the threat statuses in the different national Red List categories, we calculated a mean Red List value for every country (cRLV) and a weighted Red List value for every species (wsRLV) using the square root of the country’s area as a weighting factor. Countries with the highest cRLV were industrialised (NW) European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Denmark, whereas large Mediterranean countries such as Spain and Italy had the lowest cRLV. Species for which a Red List assessment was available in at least two European countries and with a relatively high wsRLV (≥ 50) are Colias myrmidone, Pseudochazara orestes, Tomares nogelii, Colias chrysotheme and Coenonympha oedippus. We compared these wsRLVs with the species statuses on the European Red List to identify possible mismatches. We discuss how this complementary method can help to prioritise butterfly conservation on the continental and/or the (sub-)national scale.

At the southern limit of its range the endangered butterfly Coenonympha oedippus inhabits grasslands (wet, dry) that differ significantly in the abundance of its larval hostplants (wet > dry) and mean annual air temperature (wet dry) or in degree, in the two sexes the relative area of eyespots on hindwing had opposite patterns (males: dry > wet; females: wet > dry) and was more pronounced in males than in females. The differences in wing shape between ecotypes were detected only in the hindwings of males, with more rounded apex in the dry than in the wet ecotype. We discuss the life-history traits, behavioural strategies and selection mechanisms, which largely account for the sex- and ecotype-specific variation in wing morphology.

<p>The article provides data on distribution, biological features, long-term population dynamics and modern conditions of the heath butterfly <em>Coenonympha oedippus</em> (Fabricius, 1787) on the territory of Belorussia. In the Belorussian Polesie region, there is quite dense network of large settlements of this species on large bog massifs. The species is very sensitive to overgrowing of the habitats by bushes and reeds caused by the drop of the groundwater level in the bogs due to the water drainage by land reclamation systems and the climate warming. The overgrowing of the bogs has significantly accelerated in the last decades when they have been no longer used for mowing. In the same time, the fight against bogs bushing by burning vegetation and mechanized mowing is a concern for the well-being of the settlements of <em>C. oedippus</em>.<strong> </strong></p>

The sozological index for boggy species of Papilionoidea group of Lepidoptera inhabiting the territory of Belorussia has been calculated. It is established that 7 species deserve a special attention. The condition of Boloria freija (Becklin, 1791) and B. frigga (Becklin, 1791) populations, having the 1st category of protection, is assessed as critical; these species are classified as rapidly dying out. The condtion of Coenonympha oedippus (Fabricius, 1787) corresponds to the 3rd category of protection, Oeneis jutta (Hübner, 1806) – to the 4th category of protection. Colias palaeno (Linnaeus, 1761) is recommended to be put on the list of preventive protection, and Boloria aquilonaris (Stichel, 1908) to be included into the Red Book on the 3rd category of protection. Coenonympha tullia (Müller, 1764) is considered to be a taxon of preventive protection. The transformation of the environment in the marshes as a result of their desiccation also causes concern, as well as the penetration of some species non-typical for these ecosystems to the upper bogs. It can cause an additional threat to these “conservative” ecosystems due to the possible competition from the invaders, penetration of additional parasites and infectious invasions.

The article contains the data on distribution, population, habitats and phenology of 16 species of lepidopteran insects (Insecta: Lepidoptera), inhabiting the landscape reserve “Zvanets” (Belarus, Brest region) and listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus: Rhyparioides metelkana, Pericallia matronula, Callimorpha dominula, Arytrura musculus, Diachrysia zosimi, Chariaspilates formosaria, Scopula caricaria, Gagitodes sagittata, Lycaena dispar, Euphydryas aurinia, Eu. maturna, Melitaea phoebe, M. diamina, M. aurelia, M. britomartis, Coenonympha oedippus. The data conserning the habitat of Parnassius mnemosyne in the reserve are proposed to be considered unreliable. The study also provides the information on Polyommatus daphnis which had previously been a protected species.It was found that the preferred habitat for C. oedippus, Ch. formosaria, Rh. metelkana, A. musculus, D. zosimi is fen mire. It is possible that for Rh. metelkana and A. musculus the reserve “Zvanets” is the key area concerning their preservation in Europe. On the background of the ongoing extinction of these two species in Europe and in connection with burning of vegetation practised in “Zvanets”, the further study of Rh. metelkana and A. musculus, it is particularly relevant for the development and implementation of action plans for their saving.The widespread burning of vegetation on swamps affecting mineral islands (especially small ones) has negative impact on the Papilionoidea species. In larger forest areas which burn only fragmentary the Lepidoptera population is quickly restored in burnt places due to the resettlement from the areas not affected by fire. It requires the development of special protection measures for the Papilionoidea in the reserve area.With the legalization of target burnings in the reserve “Zvanets” the best way out of this situation is the differentiation of ways to fight the bush encroachment and overgrowth of reeds. It is expedient to split the reserve into a number of areas which will be subject to burning alternately in different years. To localize the fire they must be separated by pre-cutting of the low dividing strips. To prevent any further damage by fire to the mineral islands and margins of swamps and dams the unwanted vegetation along the margins of swamps, near the channels and on the borders of swamps with mineral islands should be removed by mowing and cutting out where possible.Key words: Lepidoptera, protection, Red Data Book, wildlife area, burning of vegetation, Belarus.

In 2011, we published the proceedings of Butterfly Conservation’s Sixth International Symposium ‘2010 and beyond for Lepidoptera’ (volume 15:1–365). That meeting attempted to assess whether the Convention on Biological Diversity’s aspiration to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss in the Lepidoptera had been achieved. Sadly the conclusion was that it had not. Nevertheless, the papers in that Special Edition were not uniformly concerned with doom and gloom and many reported important insights into species’ ecology and approaches which could lead to improvements in the future. Now, 4 years on, we publish the written contributions to the Seventh Symposium held in April 2014. The Symposium title was deliberately less focussed than that held in 2010 to attempt to capture a broad snapshot of work on Lepidoptera from around the world—in that it was successful, with over 80 presentations from 28 countries. The Journal is proud to present 20 written papers from that intense and exhilarating 3-day long meeting. Nineteen papers are presented in this edition, one has already been published (Maes et al. 2014). Inevitably the preoccupation of many authors was with the ongoing impacts of climate change and how to overcome them. Parmesan et al. (2015) examined elevational range and hostplant shifts in the quino checkerspot Euphydryas editha quino whilst Wilson et al. (2015) examined turnover, habitat quality and microclimate changes at a contracting range margin of the Apollo Parnassius apollo in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains of Spain. Indeed, microclimate was something of a theme: Curtis and Isaac (2015) examined the impact of microclimate heterogeneity on the Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia, Hindle et al. (2015) scrutinised the value of topographical variation to the marbled white butterfly Melanargia galathea, whilst Suggitt et al. (2015) studied the influence of microclimate in buffering the effects of climate change and contributing to landscape-scale persistence of butterflies and moths. Dispersal studies were also evident ranging from an investigation of threats to the scarce copper (Lycaena virgaureae) from development in Sweden (Haaland 2015) and the impact of altitude (Cassacci et al. 2015). Several papers were concerned with population trends (Swengel and Swengel 2015a, b; Curtis et al. 2015) including monitoring approaches (Roy et al. 2015) or conservation at very different spatial scales such as South Africa (Edge and Mecenero 2015) and the vineyards of Washington State in the USA (James et al. 2015). Autecological studies are always welcome; Edge and Bazin (2015) contributed an indepth study of the Knysna skolly Thestor brachycerus brachycerus, Celik et al. (2015) a paper on the habitat quality determinants for the false ringlet Coenonympha Oedipus, whilst Tjornlov et al. (2015) focussed on & John W. Dover J.W.Dover@staffs.ac.uk

The knowledge on species’ habitat preferences at local scales across its range is an essential condition for defining the most appropriate habitat management for the conservation of any species. In this study, we combined field observations from three European countries with breeding experiments under field conditions to identify oviposition and larval preferences of Coenonympha oedippus at the micro-scale level across contrasting habitat types (wet vs. dry). Despite the wide geographical range and the different habitats we found some common features: (1) vegetation structure of the herb layer is an essential factor for oviposition site electivity and successful development of premature stages; (2) high cover of litter and/or dwarf shrubs in the microhabitat (larval 45–70 %, oviposition 40–50 %) creates a herb layer rich in gaps; at their edges eggs are deposited and the caterpillars are adequately sun-exposed; (3) egg-laying females are not selective regarding oviposition substratum; (4) oviposition height is adjusted to positions with direct sunlight or warm substratum; (5) the host-plants coverage in oviposition sites was high: between 45 and 50 % in wet habitats, and between 18 and 41 % in dry habitats (depending on whether only plants observed as hosts in this study are counted, or whether all potential host species are included); (6) the most important host-plant is Carex panicea (wet) and Carex humilis (dry), but Molinia caerulea (wet) and Festuca rupicola (dry) are also used regularly; (7) the availability of winter-green host-plants in the vicinity of hibernated larvae plays a substantial role in their survival. As regular mowing or grazing would remove the litter and destroy the gaps, the management should be restricted to selective reed cutting or manual shrub removal. Only selective mowing during winter (December–February) can be recommended for keeping the habitat open where the reduction of bushes is not sufficient.

The False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus) is a European butterfly species, endangered due to the severe loss and fragmentation of its habitat. In Hungary, two remaining populations of the butterfly occur in lowland Purple Moorgrass meadows. We studied a metapopulation occupying twelve habitat patches in Central Hungary. Our aim was to reveal what measures of habitat quality affect population size and density of this metapopulation, estimate dispersal parameters and describe phenology of subpopulations. Local population sizes and dispersal parameters were estimated from an extensive mark–release–recapture dataset, while habitat quality was characterized by groundwater level, cover of grass tussocks, bush cover, height of vegetation and grass litter at each habitat patch. The estimated size of the metapopulation was more than 3,000 individuals. We estimated a low dispersal capacity, especially for females, indicating a very low probability of (re)colonization. Butterfly abundance and density in local populations increased with higher grass litter, lower groundwater level and larger area covered by tussocks. We suppose that these environmental factors affect butterfly abundance by determining the microclimatic conditions for both larvae and adult butterflies. Our results suggest that the long-term preservation of the studied metapopulation needs the maintenance of high quality habitat patches by appropriate mowing regime and water regulation. Management also should facilitate dispersal to strengthen metapopulation structure with creating stepping-stones or gradually increase habitat quality in present matrix.

La compensation des impacts sur la biodiversité est basée sur la loi de 1976 portant sur les études d’impacts (Code de l’environnement L122-4), sur la directive Habitats (article 6.4) et sur la réglementation de protection d’espèces de faune et de flore. Les mesures compensatoires sont des actions positives pour la biodiversité et à caractère additionnel. Il s’agit sur le terrain de la restauration d’habitats forestiers et d’habitats d’espèces, mais aussi d’opérations de renforcement des populations des espèces ciblées. Les mesures doivent s’additionner aux engagements déjà pris par le gestionnaire sur les mêmes espaces. Leur mise en oeuvre passe par la sécurisation foncière à l’amiable des parcelles forestières concernées par acquisition ou conventionnement avec leur propriétaire. En forêt, elle a des répercussions diverses sur la gestion et l’exploitation forestière, parmi lesquelles une valorisation en dehors des itinéraires sylvicoles classiques, voire dans certains cas une non valorisation ( îlots de sénescence, extension des milieux ouverts au sein du massif, etc.). Des exemples d’arrêtés préfectoraux prescrivant des mesures en faveur des chauves-souris forestières et du Fadet des laîches (Coenonympha oedippus) sont discutés.

Determinants of Within-Patch Microdistribution and Movements of Endangered Butterfly Coenonympha Oedippus (Fabricius, 1787) (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) The within-patch microdistribution and movements of adults of the critically endangered butterfly, Coenonympha oedippus, were studied using mark-recapture data from an isolated patch network, which consisted of 8 patches in central Slovenia. The impact of patch characteristics on both parameters was analyzed. Males fly longer distances and spend more time flying than females. The distances and seasonal pattern of male movements were dependent on the patch size, and on the microdistribution and density of freshly emerged (receptive) females. The spatial and temporal pattern of female microdistribution was influenced by vegetation height, the homogeneity of host plant stands and the shading of the ground and/or the lowest parts of herb layer. In the case of near continuous distribution of host plants within a patch, the structure of herb vegetation appears to be the major determinant of adult microdistribution. It affects the dynamics of butterfly emergence and the selection of oviposition sites. The per cent cover of the nectar plant, Potentilla erecta, does not play an important role in butterfly microdistribution.

While the area of plantation forests continues to increase worldwide, their contribution to the conservation of biodiversity is still controversial. There is a particular concern on the central role played by natural habitat remnants embedded within the plantation matrix in conserving species-rich insect communities. We surveyed butterflies in maritime pine plantation landscapes in south-western France in 83 plots belonging to seven habitat types (five successional stages of pine stands, native deciduous woodlands and herbaceous firebreaks). The effect of plot, habitat and landscape attributes on butterfly species richness, community composition and individual species were analysed with a General Linear Model (GLM), partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and the IndVal method. The most important factors determining butterfly diversity and community composition were the presence of semi-natural habitats (deciduous woodlands and firebreaks) at the landscape scale and the composition of understorey vegetation at the plot scale. Pure effects of plot variables explained the largest part of community variation (12.8%), but landscape factors explained an additional, independent part (6.7%). Firebreaks were characterized by a higher species richness and both firebreaks and deciduous woodlands harboured species not or rarely found in pine stands. Despite the forest-dominated landscape, typical forest butterflies were rare and mainly found in the deciduous woodlands. Threatened species, such as Coenonympha oedippus and Euphydryas aurinia, were found in pine stands and in firebreaks, but were more abundant in the latter. In the studied plantation forest, the conservation of butterflies depends mainly on the preservation of semi-natural habitats, an adequate understorey management and the maintenance of soil moisture levels.

The study of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea) wascarried out in the Narew National Park, in two strictly protected areas under development: “Grobla pod Kurowem” and “Rynki”. A total of 40 butterfly species representing 5 families: Papilionidae (1 species), Pieridae (7 species), Lycaenidae (9 species), Nymphalidae (21 species) and Hesperiidae (2 species) were registered altogether. Most of these have wide distribution ranges and are commonly found in Poland, especially in various open dry habitats. Only four species: Lycaena dispar, Coenonympha oedippus, C. tulliaand Heteropterus morpheus,are primarily associated with or specific to moist habitats. Three species: Papilio machaon, Apatura ilia and C. oedippusare legally protected in Poland.