Butterfly ID guides.
The first European Butterflies Group identification guides are now available on the website. These are for Pieris and Gonepteryx, see here. Many thanks to Bill Raymond.

New study from France highlighting the importance of landscapes with a mosaic of habitats.

Research article. Online access to this article has been provided by Springer Nature SharedIt.
Landscape drivers of butterfly and burnet moth diversity in lowland rural areas.
Authors, Frédéric Archaux, Claire Lorel and Anne Villemey.
See here

Bulgaria Butterflies -  Nikolay Shtinkov

The Butterflies of Bulgaria Android app is now available on Google Play.
See here:  http://bulgariabutterflies.com/app.html

Papillons des Pyrénées. Compte-rendu d’inventaire élémentaire des papillons diurnes des Pyrénées, Volume 2 Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae by Jean-Louis Fourès.

Almost 200 butterfly species populate the Pyrénées, in this second volume Jean-Louis covers the 91 species of the Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae families.
Published by Editions La Cassignole, 2018, paperback 16 x 24 cm, 320 pages, price 34,50 €. Text in French, available from Editions La Cassignole, regional bookshops in France and from the author at jeanlouis.foures@orange.fr
See here for further information.
See here for the 36 minute video on YouTube, narrated by Jean-Louis about his life, work, passion for the natural world, butterflies and his book.

New magazine. European Butterflies Magazine, Charaxes Publications, edited by Jason Sargerson.

This is a new butterfly enthusiasts magazine covering Europe, and includes articles about Individual Species, Conservation, Life Cycle, Field Trips and Butterfly Sites.

The first issue, Spring 2018 is now available from Jason. Format A 4, 32 pages, price £7.50 including postage (UK). More information and sample pages on Jason Sargerson's website, see here

UICN Regional Red List of Butterflies (Rhopalocères et Zygènes) of the ex-region Rhône-Alpes, France.
Published March 2018.

The Red List of Butterflies and Zygaena of the Rhône-Alpes was initiated in 2017 by the DREAL* Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and implemented by Flavia, in collaboration with many specialists, naturalists and environmental structures.

The former Rhône-Alpes** region comprises the Ain, Ardèche, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Rhône, Savoie and Haute-Savoie and hosts nearly 88% of the butterfly species present in mainland France, making it the richest area of France.

Of the 266 species and 2 subspecies of butterflies and Zygaena present, 10.6% are considered endangered, although it would appear that no species has yet completely disappeared.

This Regional Red List also shows the current decline of species, even in the mountains.

For more information and to download the Regional Red List, see here

Information kindly communicated by Yann Baillet of Flavia, Association pour les Papillons et leur Etude, and European Butterflies Group partner for the Rhône-Alpes.

 *  DREAL: Direction régionale de l'environnement, de l'aménagement et du logement
 ** Rhône-Alpes is a former administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it is part of the new region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Biohistoire des papillons, 2ème état des lieux.

The AER (Atlas entomologique régional [Nantes]) has just published the "Biohistoire des papillons, 2ème état des lieux", compiled by Jean-Alain Guilloton. This 120 page colour atlas documents the butterfly recordings from the period 2006-2015 and follows on from the book "Biohistoire des papillons. Diversité et conservation des lépidoptères rhopalocères en Loire-Atlantique et en Vendée" by Christian Perrein, (published 2012) which was presented at the conference in Digne les-Bains in 2013.

Details on the website here. Sample pages here and order form here. 

La collection des papillons et les espèces menacées d'Auvergne.

Les collections du Muéum Henri-Lecoq, Volume V111 - Zoologie.
Authors, Philippe Bachelard and Marie-Françoise Faure

The Henri-Lecoq Museum in Clermont-Ferrand is pleased to announce the publication of its latest booklet, which is dedicated to the museum's butterfly collections and the endangered species of the Auvergne, France. See here for more info.

The museum houses important Lepidoptera collections totalling 100,000 specimens, these are an important resource for the study of historical butterfly populations, and have been used to establish the Regional List of threatened species for the Auvergne.

88 pages, 17 x 24 cm, 132 illustrations, price €10, to order: dvogt@clementmetropole.eu

Crossbill Guides: Dordogne, France.
Authors, David Simpson and Frank Jouandoudet. Publication date April 2018

This new title in the Crossbill Guides covers the well-known region of Dordogne in south western France.

The book describes the flora and fauna, landscape, history and conservation of this region, plus 21 detailed routes and around 23 sites with specific suggestions on where and how to find the birds, wildlife and flora.

David is a wildlife guide living in the Dordogne, the local contact for European Butterflies Group and a former nature reserve warden of Ravenglass Reserve.

Paperback, €28.95, 256 pages, 21 x 15 cm, ISBN: 978-9491648137. See here

Details of a discount for European Butterflies Group members can be found in the Spring 2018 Newsletter.
For a 50 page preview of the book see here

Swiss Butterflies: East
DVD by Jason Sargerson.
From the publisher: This is an original film of butterflies in Eastern Switzerland. Easily accessible butterfly sites in Graubünden, Uri and Schwyz are visited, including the Albula Valley, Alp Valley, Beverin Valley, Oberalppass, Inn Valley, Poschiavo Valley and Rhine Valley.
More than 60 species filmed, over four years, from 2014 to 2017.
See here for more information 

A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America, Jeffrey Glassberg.
A photographic field guide to almost all of Mexico's butterfly species and many of Central America's
Revised second edition. Softback, 304 pages, 3,250 colour photos and maps. 2018, Princeton University Press, price £32.95.

Film. Papillons de France en liberté, by Thierry Carabin.
In this film, butterflies were filmed over a five year period in their natural environment, from sea level up to 3,000 meters of altitude Of the 200 species filmed, 180 are featured in the 48 minute version of film, including Spanish Fritillary, Scarce Fritillary, Scarce Large Blue, Southern Swallowtail and Provence Hairstreak.
There are sequences showing butterfly emergence, the territorial behaviour of butterflies, butterflies in flight, courtship displays, mating, egg-laying, as well as sequences showing the wild flowers of the various habitats.
You can see the video trailer here

Papillons des Pyrénées. Compte-rendu d’inventaire élémentaire des papillons diurnes des Pyrénées, Volume 1 Papilionidae et Nymphalidae by Jean-Louis Fourès.
Jean-Louis is a passionate amateur entomologist, he is a farmer and cheese-maker in the department of the Haute-Garonne, Occitanie (previously Midi-Pyrénées).
He is originally from Bagnères de Bigorre in the Hautes Pyrénées, and has spent his life in the mountains and valleys of the Pyrénées where he developed a passionate interest in butterflies.
This book is the fruit of his observations and studies, he shares his knowledge of the butterflies of the French Pyrénées, Andorra and the Val d'Aran with more than 600 photographs, 91 species and butterfly landscapes. All photographed across the Pyrénées, from the Pyrénées-Orientales to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
A second book is underway and will include the other families.
Published by Editions La Cassignole, 2017, paperback 16 x 24 cm, 320 pages, price 34,50 €. Text in French, available from bookshops in France. See here
You can watch the video on YouTube here

New. Les Papillons de jour du Poitou-Charentes, France.
This book, covering the four departments of the Poitou-Charentes, has survey details covering a period of over ten years.
It is illustrated with more than 300 photographs,140 maps and contains 260,000 observations.
Special launch offer €28.50 (5% discount).
Sample pages on Calmeo, see here
Further information and to order on the Poitou-Charentes Nature website, see here

Butterfly Conservation’s European Interests Group changes name to Butterfly Conservation’s European Butterflies Group 
When EIG was started in 2006 it was described to Butterfly Conservation (BC) Council as a way of bringing together those members of BC who were ‘interested’ in European Butterflies.  We were therefore set up as Butterfly Conservation’s ‘European Interests Group’ which soon became shortened to EIG.  Now with over 450 members and contacts and partnerships all over Europe we are recognized as a valuable source of information, expertise and in several countries where we have done surveys, as ‘boots on the ground’. 

However, ‘European Interests Group’ is incomprehensible to foreigners, does not appear to have anything to do with butterflies and requires the Butterfly Conservation prefix to make any sense.  It is invariably shortened to EIG which is just as incomprehensible and also does not appear to have anything to do with butterflies.

EIG Committee has determined that the name should be changed from ‘Butterfly Conservation’s European Interests Group’ to ‘Butterfly Conservation’s European Butterflies Group’. ‘European Butterflies Group’ is self-explanatory.  It is less likely to be shortened as it does what it says on the tin.  We have secured the domain name www.european-butterflies.org.uk which will give us a much higher hit rate on search engines for anyone looking for ‘European Butterflies’.  
In all other aspects we will remain exactly the same.  There will be changes to our website etc, bank account, BC’s membership documentation etc.  We have a new logo based on the existing logo.  The website etc has now been changed but anyone with a link to www.bc-eig.org.uk will be redirected automatically to www.european-butterflies.org.uk.

Simon Spencer
Chairman
Butterfly Conservation’s European Butterflies Group

Les invertébrés dans la ­conservation et la gestion des espaces naturels
The proceedings from the conference held in Toulouse (France), from 13-16 May 2015, are available from the MNHN website (Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris).
Scientific publications, collection patrimones naturels, volume 76, 29 Nov 2017, price 28€. Conference coordinated by Nicolas GOUIX & Daniel MARC from the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Midi-Pyrénées.
Summary see here
Further information, and to order see here

European Marsh Award 2017 to Professor László Rákosy
László is the pre-eminent Lepidopterist in Romania and is an expert on both macro and micro-moths. His knowledge has led to the publication of the Catalogue of Romanian Lepidoptera, documenting over 4,000 species from across the country.
Read more here

A photographic guide to INSECTS of southern Europe and the Mediterranean by Paul D. Brock.
This new and eagerly awaited book by Paul D. Brock is now available from Pisces Publications, NatureBureau.
Paul is a scientific associate of the Natural History Museum, London, and acclaimed author of A Comprehensive Guide to Insects of Britain & Ireland (Pisces 2014).
The number of species in southern Europe and the Mediterranean is enormous compared to that of Britain.
This guide covers representative species from most insect orders, including many endemic species, concentrating on what the naturalist, photographer, or holidaymaker is likely to find.
It is the first English language book to offer a comprehensive guide to the species of southern Europe.
Over 412 pages, with more than 2000 colour photographs, and 1500 distribution maps, it covers all the major insect groups to be found in the region. Flexibound, £27.50. See here

Atlas des Papillons « de jour » du Nord – Pas-de-Calais, 2000-2014. Lépidoptères Papilionoidea.  France.
This is volume 2 of the collection: Faune de Nord - Pas-de-Calais by GON (Groupe ornithologique et naturalistes du Nord - Pas-de-Calais, animated by Daniel Haubreux).
It is the result of 15 years of data collecting, recording and research, from 646 contributors and 17 technical partners. The volume comprises 494 pages and covers 96 species.
There are over 500 illustrations including photos, designs, watercolours, graphs, distribution maps etc.
The preface is by Tristan Lafranchis. The following 11 chapters cover themes such as the history of the working group on the Lépidoptères Papilionoidea, Nord - Pas-de-Calais, the presentation of the regional Red List of threatened butterfly species, the list of regional heritage butterfly species and the regional plan of action for the conservation of butterflies and their habitats.
Chapter 6 forms the heart of the Atlas, it is dedicated to the species monographs which comprise more than half of the book.
Price 35 € plus postage. To order:
·         Postal address: GON - 23 rue Gosselet, 59 000 Lille, France
·         Email: contact@gon.fr Website: https://gon.fr/gon/produit/atlas-des-papillons-de-jour/

Information communicated by Robin Quevillart (European Butterflies Group partner, GON)

Identification key for the Lycaenidae of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (France).
New. Detailed and illustrated identification guide of the Lycaenidae of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté from the Conservatoire botanique national de Franche-Comté - Observatoire régional des Invertébrés.
Theclinae: 8 species, Lycaeninae: 7 species, Polyommatinae: 25 species, Riodininae: 1 species.
See here

Index for European Butterflies Group Newsletters 1 to 21
An updated index of the contents of all European Butterflies Group Newsletters up to and including the tenth anniversary magazine has been prepared by Graham Revill and is now on the website, see here

New exhibition. The Apollo butterfly, Muséum Henri-Lecoq, France.
16 May - 1 October 2017 at the Muséum Henri-Lecoq, 15 rue Bardoux, Clermont-Ferrand.
The Apollo is threatened with extinction in Auvergne. The Museum Henri-Lecoq has devoted an exhibition to this species (see here). Information supplied by Philippe Bachelard, SHNAO partner of the Muséum and European Butterflies Group partner for the Auvergne.

Updated species checklist
There is now an updated species checklist on the website, as published in the recent magazine, see here

European Butterflies Group Magazine - additional copies
The European Butterflies Group's tenth anniversary magazine 'Butterflies IN EUROPE' has articles on many of the best butterfly regions in Europe as well as an up-to-date checklist of European butterfly species.  Copies were posted to members in May 2017.  A supply of additional copies is held by Butterfly Conservation in Wareham and they may be purchased by members and non-members at £5 per copy including postage.  The maximum purchase is five.  Cheques should be made payable to Butterfly Conservation European Butterflies Group Branch and sent to Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP.  Payment may also be made by bank transfer - phone 01929 400209 or email info@butterfly-conservation.org for details.

See here for the cover page of the magazine

2017 ~ European Butterflies Group AGM
The European Butterflies Group AGM and Members day for 2017 will be held on Saturday 4th November at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Kings Cross, London. Speakers will include Martin Warren. We look forward to seeing you there. Further information will appear on the 'Events AGM' page, in due course.

European Butterflies Group Newsletter
The European Butterflies Group Anniversary Magazine, May 2017, 'Butterflies IN EUROPE' has been dispatched to members. Our thanks go to Nigel Peace, the European Butterflies Group Newsletter Editor.
See here for the cover pages of the magazine.

European Butterflies Group Bursaries
The 2017 European Butterflies Group bursaries of £500 have been awarded to Mathew Sparks who will join an European Butterflies Group team surveying in Mount Taygetos, Greece for Acantholimon androsaceum the foodplant of Turanana taygetica (Odd Spot Blue).  He will use a drone to assist in surveying remote areas of the mountain. A second bursary has been awarded Will Langdon for a project on Scarce and Dusky Large Blues (Maculinea telejus and nausithous) in Hungary.  There were two applications and we have awarded two bursaries.
In line with our policy of encouraging young people to get involved with European butterflies both applicants are either at University or recent graduates.  The closing date for 2018 applications is 17/04/2018 see here

A Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Northern Europe, by Ted Benton
New book written by our European Butterflies Group colleague, Ted Benton.
Comprehensive identification guide to the 159 butterfly species found in Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, Belgium, Netherlands and the Baltics. Detailed species descriptions, wingspan, distribution and habitat. The introduction covers living with butterflies, anatomy, behaviour, ecology, distribution and conservation. Paperback, 176 pages, 300 photographs, price £11.99. Publisher John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd. http://johnbeaufoy.com/ Available in book stores. Summary is here
21st May 2017 a review by Martin Davies of this book is here

Butterfly Atlas of Bretagne (Britanny, France)
This Atlas is due to be published in June 2017. In French. 324 pages, with over 300 photographs, covering the current status of the butterflies of Britanny. Almost 110,000 records for the period 2000- 2015 and 10,000 historical records, including the analysis of the main Breton collectors. Monographs of the 89 species present or extinct, biology, regional status, distribution maps etc. Special pre-publication price 22€ plus postage until 31st May 2017. Further information on the Bretagne Vivante website, see here:

http://www.bretagne-vivante.org/Actualites/SOUSCRIPTION-Atlas-des-papillons-diurnes-de-Bretagne

Order form is here

'A photographic guide to insects of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean'
New. 'A photographic guide to insects of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean' by Paul D. Brock, Scientific Associate, Natural History Museum, London. This book covers all the major insect groups of this region. 'Pre-publication price £19.95, offer ends 31 August 2017. More information and order form here

Butterfly Conservation Europe - Activity Report 2016
The Butterfly Conservation Europe, Activity Report for 2016 can be consulted here
European Interests Group assisted with the Report by asking Matthias Dolek to summarise progress to date on the Colias myrmidone project which European Butterflies Group has supported both financially and with volunteer time. Simon Spencers report is on page 15 of the PDF.

Diatheo : updates
Distribution maps have been recently updated and a bibliography added. See here:
http://diatheo.weebly.com/cartes-et-bibliographies-avec-mises-agrave-jour.html
(Click on the species for the PDF)
For an example, the pdf for Aricia nicias can be seen here:
http://diatheo.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/2/3/28235851/aricia_nicias__bib.pdf

Papillons de France by Tristan Lafranchis (in French) has recently been updated, reprinted and is now available.
Butterflies of Europe is available as a PDF, in English price 15€.

Papillons du Jura by Jean-Claude Gerber
This reference book describes the butterflies and Burnet moths that can be found in the Jura mountains of Switzerland and the Franche-Compté, (French Jura). 368 pages, beautifully illustrated with watercolour drawings, photographs and line drawings. Published December 2016, hardback, in French, price CHF 58.
Example pages and order form here: http://www.papillonsdujura.ch/livre
(The book can also be purchased in the UK, including from Pemberley books at £65)

National Plan of Action for Maculinea (Phengaris). France. Plan National d'Actions en faveur des Maculinea (PNA).
You can download the PNA report 2011 - 2015, from the Website dedicated to the National Plan of Action. In French.
See here for the report

Swiss Butterflies Site Guide 2016 by Jason Sargerson
This book describes 30 top butterfly sites in Bern, Geneva, Graubünden, Jura, Schwyz, Ticino and Valais. Paperback, 35 pages, in English, price £10 including postage. Jason is also the author of Swiss Butterflies. Second edition 2016.
Front cover here
Further details on Jason's website, see here

NEW - Pyrgus ID key for France by Cédric Jacquier. Photos Roger Gibbons and Stéphane Bence. See here

Dr Martin Warren awarded OBE for services to the environment in the 2017 New Year Honours list.
Martin has just retired as Chief Executive of BC, Martin has devoted his working life and the majority of his spare time to protecting butterflies and moths, read more here

Les Procris de France / French Forester Moths (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Procridinae & Chalcosiinae), Eric Drouet
The aim of the edition is to help facilitate the identification of the 14 species of Forester Moths present in France. 128 pages in French and English, 30€ plus postage. This comprehensive information has been compiled by GIRAZ over a 15 year period, and comprises detailed monographs, distribution maps, water colours, photographs of species in their natural habitat, figuration of genitalia etc. For more information and the order form see here

Online Atlas for the fauna and flora of the Parc National des Ecrins - France.
Over 500,000 records for 4,077 species can be consulted from the online Atlas.
Records comprise data submitted by Parc National staff, since the creation of the Parc National des Ecrins in 1973.
From the "Homepage" http://biodiversite.ecrins-parcnational.fr/  enter the species name under "rechercher une éspece", to see the species data sheet.

As an example, you can see the species data sheet for Boloria napaea: Mountain Fritillary, here:  http://biodiversite.ecrins-parcnational.fr/espece/53923

You can read a descriptive of the Atlas on the "journal du Parc" here: http://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr/dossier/biodiv-ecrins-connaissance-direct

National Plan of Action (PNA) and the Regional Red List of butterflies and Zygaena for the Île de France.
The National Plan of Action for Maculinea [phengaris], which was presented at the Proserpine / European Butterflies Group conference at Digne-les-bains in 2013, came to an end in 2015. The next stage of the National Plan of Action will include additional species, such as protected and threatened species as well as those of special local interest. An initial list of species has been drawn up by the MNHN, to be ratified by the Minister of the Environment over the coming months.

You can see the Regional Red List of butterflies and Zygaena, for the Île de France here.

Pré-Atlas des rhopalocères et zygènes d’Aquitaine, France.
The pré-atlas is available to download from the Faune-Aquitaine website of the LPO http://www.faune-aquitaine.org, and will be available to download shortly from the website of the CEN Aquitaine http://www.cen-aquitaine.org.
See here for the link to the pré-atlas.

Records towards the Atlas are welcomed, by our colleague David Soulet, please see the Requests page.

European Marsh Award 2016 to Rudi Verovnik
Rudi Verovnik, BCE's Slovenian board member, received the 2016 Marsh Lepidoptera Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Lepidoptera Conservation and Research in Europe from Martin Warren. Read more here

Papillons du Loiret, Atlas des Rhopalocères et Zygènes du Loiret (France). Co-edited by the Société pour le Muséum d'Orléans et les Sciences and by Alexanor, published December 2015. In French.
This atlas of butterflies and burnet moths includes a synthesis of 36,000 records, covering the period 2000 - 2013.
344 pages,authors Frédéric Archaux (watercolours), Patrice Chatard, Franck Faucheux, Antoine Lévêque, in colaboration with Michèle Bichaud.
See more info here
Price 38€, further information and to order: somosorleans(at)gmail.com

New - Butterflies of Europe and neighbouring regions by Patrice LERAUT (author of Moths of Europe) NAP Editions, published
16 September 2016. English version, hardback.

Information and example pages on the NAP Editions website:
http://www.napeditions.com/en/39-butterflies-of-europe-and-neighbouring-regions.html
The book is also available from Pemberley, price £79
http://www.pemberleybooks.com/product/butterflies-of-europe-and-neighbouring-regions/30392/

The IUCN Mediterranean Red List, of Threatened Species

All species assessments, of the Mediterranean Red List can be found here: http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/mediterranean.
The report 'The status and distribution of Mediterranean Butterflies' can be downloaded here: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/46183

New butterfly identification guide for Switzerland, from Lepido.ch.

'Guide d'identification des papillons de jour de Suisse'.
Michel and Vincent Baudraz (lepido.ch, butterflies of Switzerland)
192 pages, 216 species, price CHF 30, text in French, published July 2016.
Full details here: http://www.lepido.ch/guide-d-identification

New - Volume 4 of The Bibliography of the Lepidoptera of France, by Sylvain Delmas.
Volume 4 includes corrections and additions to the previous 3 volumes and an update, to cover the period from 2011 - 2015.

Price for volume 4 is 15€ plus postage, for non-members. Bon de commande_20 juin 2016.pdf

New - Moth atlas for Lower Normandy & the Channel Islands.
This book covering the 359 moths known in Lower Normandy & the Channel Islands can be pre-ordered at a discount price of 35€ plus postage 18€ until 31 July 2016, after which the book is full price, available Sept 2016. Order form is here

New - Atlas des papillons de l'Orne - Butterflies of the Orne, Normandy, France, 1980-2010. Price 35€.
Order here, example extract here