Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics / Zoological Museum Amsterdam SECTION ENTOMOLOGY

 

DUTCH MIGRATORY LEPIDOPTERA REGISTRATION (worlds longest on-going project for the registration of migratory Lepidoptera) Drs Rob de Vos (for Dutch version, click here) Introduction Since 1940, all reported migratory Lepidoptera have been registrated in the Netherlands by many volunteers. These records are published in an annual report in "Entomologische Berichten", the magazine of the Dutch Entomological Society. Every observer receives a free copy of the annual report and a newsletter of the "Werkgroep Vlinderfaunistiek" which is published twice a year and contains the most recent news concerning Dutch migrating butterflies and moths. Aim The aim of registrating Dutch migratory butterflies and moths is defined by Lempke (1956) as follows: "To collect all sorts of information and to publish this so it will become available to anyone who studies the migration of Lepidoptera". The original defined aim was based on registration and publishing data from The Netherlands, but plans have been made to extend the study of migratory Lepidoptera to European level. Already close cooperation has been established with the Belgium Migratory Lepidoptera Research (under supervision of Bart Vanholder; bvholder@innet.be ). The definition of migratory Lepidoptera in The Netherlands Every butterfly or moth which moves from one spot to another is in fact migrating. There are, however, many ways to define the term "migratory Lepidoptera" more accurately, but they are all debatable. Lempke (1972) recognized three categories of migratory Lepidoptera: indigenous species, which migrate within their areal. regular occuring migrants, which are recorded almost every year and cannot hibernate in The Netherlands under natural conditions. irregular occuring migrants, which are recorded now and then and cannot hibernate in our country. The difference between the second and third category is not very clear. Furthermore, the qualification can change for every species, and therefore the list of migratory Lepidoptera is subject to constant changes. A problem appears when, due to mild winters, migrants do hibernate in our country. The complexity of the categories is shown by the fact that indigenous species are also able to migrate within their areal: the first category. Usually not all individuals take part in the migration and also the individual migration distance may vary greatly. Descendants of the migrating parents, which do not (yet) migrate, are in fact not migratory Lepidoptera. Differentiating between migrating and non migrating individuals may result in practical problems. The definition of migratory Lepidoptera in The Netherlands is therefore based on the second and third of Lempke's categories: species which are not indigenous and cannot hibernate in our country under normal natural conditions. The registration of migratory Lepidoptera For registration of migratory Lepidoptera four pieces of data are essential: species number date site Non of this data should be missing. Even when large numbers of specimens are observed, for instance of Autographa gamma, it is important that the number is at least estimated. Only correctly identified specimens should be recorded. For supply of special registration forms or more information about Dutch migratory Lepidoptera, please write or e-mail to the following address: Dutch Migratory Lepidoptera Registration Plantage Middenlaan 64 NL-1018 DH Amsterdam The Netherlands tel. 31-20-5256253 fax. 31-20-5256528 e-mail: rvos@science.uva.nl Literature: Lempke, B.J., 1956. De Nederlandse Trekvlinders (eerste druk). KNNV uitgave 12: 1-91, Thieme, Zutphen. Lempke, B.J., 1972. De Nederlandse Trekvlinders (tweede druk). KNNV uitgave 12: 1-151, Thieme, Zutphen. Vos, R. de, 1992. Handleiding bij het waarnemen en registreren van Nederlandse trekvlinders. Trekvlinderregistratie Nederland: 1-24.   Species of migratory Lepidoptera in the Netherlands In December 1999 the new checklist of Dutch Lepidoptera was published: "Annotated Checklist of the Dutch Lepidoptera", by J.H. Kuchlein and R. de Vos. This list can be ordered at Backhuys Publishers, P.O. box 321, NL-2300 AH Leiden (backhuys@backhuys.com) for about £ 50 (VAT and mailing not included). The checklist contains 56 migrant species, which are labeled with an "M". As some of these species were not yet recorded as migrants in The Netherlands, a complete list of the Dutch migratory Lepidoptera is given here Plutella xylostella Choristoneura murinana Epinotia thapsiana Zeiraphera griseana Epischnia prodromella Etiella zinckenella Ancylosis oblitella Homoeosoma nebulella Euchromius ocellea Loxostege sticticalis Uresiphita gilvata Udea ferrugalis Nomophila noctuella Dolicharthria punctalis Diasemia reticularis Diasemiopsis ramburialis Palpita unionalis Spoladea recurvalis Agrius convolvuli Acherontia atropos Daphnis nerii Macroglossum stellatarum Hyles euphorbiae Hyles livornica Hippotion celerio Iphiclides podalirius Colias croceus Colias hyale Colias alfacariensis Vanessa atalanta Vanessa cardui Aplasta ononaria Cyclophora puppillaria Rhodometra sacraria Orthonama obstipata Catocala fraxini Diachrysia chryson Autographa gamma Autographa bractea Syngrapha interrogationis Trichoplusia ni Chrysodeixis chalcites Acontia lucida Eublemma ostrina Eublemma parva Schinia scutosa Heliothis peltigera Heliothis nubigera Helicoverpa armigera Spodoptera exigua Mythimna vitellina Mythimna loreyi Mythimna unipuncta Peridroma saucia Agrotis ipsilon Utetheisa pulchella News about the Dutch migrating Lepidoptera, compiled by the "Werkgroep Vlinderfaunistiek": migrating Lepidoptera in 2000 In the year 2000 153 volunteers reported 29 species of migrating Lepidoptera in The Netherlands. Most abundant were Plutella xylostella, Colias croceus, Vanessa atalanta and Agrotis ipsilon, of which high numbers were counted. Vanessa atalanta and Helicoverpa armigera were seen in the highest number ever. Vanessa cardui and particulary Autographa gamma, Colias hyale and Macroglossum stellatarum were seen in rather moderate numbers. There were some very exciting species recorded too: the fifth Dutch specimen of Danaus plexippus, the sixth Uresiphita gilvata, the sixth Trichoplusia ni, and a record of Palpita unionalis and Hyles euphorbiae. Lithosia quadra has not been seen in our country for many years and suddenly there were 19 specimens recorded (most in the southern part, a few in the central and northern part of the country). Additionally there are some "new" adventives or aliens for The Netherlands reported: Hypercallia spec. (Oecophoridae) &endash; A beautiful and rather large micromoth was found in a garden in Leeuwarden (Province of Friesland) at May 3rd in 1999. A photograph was sent to Kevin Tuck of the Natural History Museum in London, but the species could not be identified yet. It probably originates from Central- or South-America. Three exotic species were found on November 30st 2000 in Honselersdijk (Province of Zuid-Holland) together with imported cactus from the Republic of Dominica. Eurema nicippe (Cramer) (Pieridae), a species which resembles Colias croceus, Eurema elathea (Cramer) and Nyctelius nyctelius (Latreille) (Hesperiidae). Dryas julia (Fabricius) (Nymphalidae; Heliconiinae) &endash; In 2002 a specimen of this remarkable South American butterfly was seen in Gaastmeer (Province of Friesland). It was probably escaped from a tropical butterfly garden in the neighborhood or a private breeder. Pachylia ficus (Linnaeus) (Sphingidae) &endash; This hawkmoth from Latin America was found earlier in our country in 1986. In 1998 a second specimen was found in Naaldwijk (Province of Zuid-Holland). Xylophanes tersa (Linnaeus) (Sphingidae) &endash; A specimen was found in 2000 in Honselersdijk (Province of Zuid-Holland) in a crate with plants from the Republic of Dominica. Megalopyge opercularis Smith (Megalopygidae) &endash; This beautiful moth originates from Latin America. It is therefore very strange that it was found in Utrecht (Central Netherlands) on lava stones from the Canary Islands. Copaxa lavendera Westwood (Saturniidae) &endash; In 1999 a specimen of this large yellow Emperor Moth was found in Den Helder (Province of Noord-Holland). It was identified by Dr. W.A. Nässig (Museum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main). A strange caught since this species occurs in Central-America. It is therefore even more strange that a second specimen was found in Blaricum (Noord-Holland) in 2001 between clothes from Thailand and a third one was found in 2002 in Heemskerk (Noord-Holland) in a bunch of flowers. In 2003 a fourth one was found in Drachten (Province of Friesland), again in a bunch of flowers. The cause of these sudden founds of this remarkable species is yet not clear. Bufoidia hyatti (Tams) (Lasiocampidae) &endash; In 2000 this Spinner Moth was found as a caterpillar on flowers in Vlaardingen (Province of Zuid-Holland). After breeding and hatching the moth was identified by David Goodger (Natural History Museum, London). The species occurs in Northeast Africa (i.e. Somalia). Observations of moths in The Netherlands Apart from the usual records of migrants, we are also very interested in information and observations of all other moths in The Netherlands. This could be old or new information, Micro- or Macrolepidoptera, reports and lists, and (especially) digitally stored information. This information will be used for compiling a distribution atlas of all the moth species in The Netherlands, directed by the "Werkgroep Vlinderfaunistiek", which has built up a very large database. This major project will be released with cooperation of the Dutch Butterfly Foundation ("De Vlinderstichting"). This project is a continuation of many previous and comparable projects on this subject, which for the Macrolepidoptera all together go back to more than 10 years.