Revised checklist of the butterflies of Serbia (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)

Abstract

With studies spanning almost two centuries, butterflies are one of the best known insect groups in Serbia. However, there are still several inconsistencies regarding the number and selection of species included in national checklists published in the last decades. In order to overcome the confusing situation we provide a taxonomically up-to-date checklist of the butterflies for the country, including Kosovo, based on a comprehensive survey of the literature, inspection of available museum collections and from intensive field surveys over the last twenty years. Our aim is also to resolve some long standing problems with species potentially occurring in the country. For this purpose genitalia dissections and DNA barcoding have been used for identification where necessary. The annotated checklist includes 199 species of which Carcharodus orientalis is new for the country and the recently discovered white Anthocharis damone is listed for the first time. We also provide conclusive evidence of the presence of Melitaea ornata in Serbia. Among species listed in the previous species lists we excluded eight species due to inconclusive evidence, and provide a detailed explanation for their exclusion. We hope this publication will stimulate further studies of this important bioindicator group of insects and provide the basis for their conservation in the country.

The distribution and status of Sage Skipper Muschampia proto (Ochsenheimer, 1808) (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae) at the limit of its range in the north-western Balkans

“…In order to gain an overview of the historical occurrence of M. proto in Croatia and neighbouring countries, a systematic analysis of the published literature was conducted. For some countries like Bosnia & Herzegovina (Lelo 2016), Serbia (Popović and Verovnik 2018), Montenegro (Franeta 2018), and Albania (Cuvelier et al 2018) recent checklists have been published and were used as a main source for the species' occurrence and/or distribution. For Northern Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Romania, available reference papers were used to assess the species' status, while for Greece the main source of information was found in the book Butterflies of Greece (Pamperis 2009).…”

About the need to publish a new Red Data Book of Serbian butterflies and moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

“…Сходно томе, данас нема систематски добијених података о тренду промена бројности популација угрожених врста. (Jakšić et al, 2013;Popović & Verovnik, 2018). Сигурно је да то није коначан број и да се у блиској будућности може очекивати утврђивање још неколико нових врста.…”

A critical review of the current checklist of butterflies of Serbia

“…Summarizing their results, we can Corresponding author: jaksicpredrag@gmail.com BIOLOGY say that there is little probability of the presence in Serbia of the species Colias chrysotheme (Esper, 1781), Polyommatus escheri (Hübner, 1823), Hipparchia fatua Freyer, 1843 and Melanargia russiae (Esper, 1783).The survival of these and some other species in Serbia is conditioned by a combination of ecological factors in the relevant habitats. By examining the material that was handled and published by Csipe (2006), Popović & Verovnik (2018) correctly concluded that this is a wrong determination, that in fact it is the species C. erate (Esper, 1805). However, we believe that the possibility of the presence of this species in Serbia should not be completely ruled out.…”

“…In the Republic of Serbia, two checklists of butterflies of Serbia have been published in which, besides their scientific names, their local vernacular names are given (Jakšić & Ðurić, 2008;Jakšić et al, 2013). Recently, a third checklist was published (Popović & Verovnik, 2018). Thanks to these texts, the knowledge about the fauna of this group of insects in Serbia is gradually being completed.…”

“…Firstly, there will be those that are present in neighboring countries, and then the invasive species that are spreading from the south towards the north. Here in, we want to look at the above mentioned text of Popović & Verovnik (2018).…”