Following on from our survey in July 2017 of the Phalakron area of Greece (north of Drama) for Pseudochazara orestes (Dil’s Grayling) and a similar survey a few years ago both of which only yielded single individuals, we would like others to repeat surveys in this area but in late June and early July which is supposed to be the main flight period. 

Simon Spencer surveyed many sites in the Phalakron area while leading a Greenwings tour there in 2022 from 24th June to 1st July.   No P. orestes were found.  It was a very late season in 2022.  A single P.orestes was found by a Dutch group led by Albert Vliegenthart in early July. Simon Spencer will lead another Greenwings tour 28th June - 5th July 2023.

We can supply in confidence, sites where this species has been seen in the past and suggest places to stay etc.  It is a very special area for butterflies with many interesting species.  P. orestes must be one of the most threatened butterflies in Europe and restricted to a small area of North Greece and probably Southern Bulgaria. There have been massive changes recently with development of marble quarries which now provide employment in an area where traditional shepherding is in decline.  The roads to the quarries do make access easier. You would probably need to fly to Thessaloniki and hire a car.  Again we cannot help with expenses but Greece is quite cheap despite the weak pound. 

Please contact Martin Davies or Simon Spencer.

Request updated February 2023

Colleagues at Butterfly Conservation Europe (BCE) are working on the first ever European Red List of the macro-moths. Each species needs a photo and whilst they have photos of the British and common European species there is a large number for which they have no photos.

If you think you may be able to help please contact Mike Prentice who can supply a spreadsheet of the species for which photos are needed.

Request posted December 2022

This collective work was coordinated by Pierre-Yves Gourvil and Mathieu Sannier. The atlas covers the administrative area of Aquitaine before it became Nouvelle Aquitaine in 2016. The 5 departments concerned are Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot and Garonne and Pyrénées Atlantiques.The atlas incorporates observations and inventories carried out by amateurs, volunteers and professionals including those of the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de Nouvelle-Aquitaine and LPO Aquitaine mainly via the Observatoire de la Faune sauvage de Nouvelle-Aquitaine and LPO Aquitaine's 'faune-aquitaine" website. It comprises almost 400,000 records of 158 species for the period 2000 - 2020.

The book starts with an introduction to butterflies, their observation and identification, the history of butterfly studies in Aquitaine, local habitats, butterfly conservation in Aquitaine and finally the methodology and results of the atlas project.

The monographs (include English names) take up the vast majority of the book. They focus on each species' caterpillar host plants, ecology, biology, distribution, flight period, together with an historical analysis, species status, threats and conservation information. Each monograph is illustrated with photos, a distribution map and flight period graph.
The atlas is co-edited by the scientific publications of the MNHN (National Museum of Natural History)

Price 35€ plus p+p. Paperback, 464 pages. Text in French.

For more information and to order see here:
https://leclub-biotope.com/en/naturalist-bookstore/1742-atlas-des-papillons-de-jour-d-aquitaine

Many thanks to European Butterflies Group members who have contributed to this Atlas.

Post updated November 2022

Following on from the request of February 2016 from our partner Marie-Cécile Ruiz of the Corsican Environment Office (OEC-OCIC) for information and records on the distribution of Corsican Lepidoptera, we are pleased to say that the IUCN Regional Red List was published in 2017, and can be consulted here

This book is a photographic guide to the butterflies, burnet and forester moths of France.

The book has two main sections, the identification keys and the species monographs.
297 species are described in the book, with images of both upper and undersides of all male and female species to be found in mainland France.

Three species identification keys are proposed, a new "classic" determination key using both the upper and underside. A second key, using the upper side and a third key using the underside, aim to show how far one can progress with an identification when there is just a photograph of the species with the wings either open or closed.


The monographs are the main section of the book, each monograph comprises the scientific name and family, French and English vernacular names, a reference to the main identification key, 5 photographs, with a succinct text of the main id criteria which are also indicated on the photos, a small distribution map for France, flight period, the number of generations and the species status where applicable.

The book is a result of a collective involvement of more than 100 participants. Format 15 x 21cm, 512 pages, price 35€ plus postage, text in French.

For more information, to view sample pages and to order a copy of the book, please consult the Gard Nature website, see here:  http://gard-nature.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022_commande_papillons_de_france.pdf

Many thanks to EBG members who have participated in this project. 

Request updated November 2022

A request from the University of Bern, Switzerland,  Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Insect Migration and Ecology Lab. for Red Admiral sightings.

We have been contacted by Marco Thoma from the University, requesting records for this species, to help with the study of Red Admiral migration across Europe. Records can be submitted via the country portal, details can be found on the link below, e.g. Butterfly Conservation in the UK.

Alternatively by a mobile app such as 'NaturaList', or 'ObsMapp' for Android, or 'iObs' for iPhone.

Read more here:
https://insectmigration.wordpress.com/red-admiral-migration/

News Release (PDF)

Request posted April 2017

We have had a request from Matthias Dolek who is leading together with Jacqueline Loos our collaborative work on Colias myrmidone (Danube Clouded Yellow) in Romania.  Previous work by this group has identified two populations of this threatened butterfly in Romania and previous surveys by EBG members and Romanian collaborators have mapped the distribution. They want to estimate the population size of a site near Cluj using mark and recapture. This involves a lot of chasing butterflies with nets. There are normally two generations a year in May and end of July until beginning of September. The latter is larger and is more in focus but with enough volunteers they might do both. They are looking for self-funded volunteers to join them. The area has lots of other butterflies and is like stepping back into the 20th century with hay stacks and horses and carts.  

There are cheap Wizzair and other flights to Cluj and local hotel accommodation.  Please contact Martin Davies or Simon Spencer for more information, or Matthias Dolek.
 
Matthias’s website page:  http://www.geyer-und-dolek.de/myrmidone_dreiframes.htm

Request posted October 2017