Gästrikland's Red-listed Butterflies

Euzophera cinerosella (wormwood moth) lives as a larva in roots of Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) (Svensson 1993). The four specimens caught at Eggegrund during the period 3–4 August (KJC) are the northernmost records so far in Sweden. The species is distributed from Scania in the south to Uppland in the north with gaps in many provinces, for example Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland, and all provinces bordering Gästrikland except Uppland. All Uppland records are from the Stockholm region. Given the rich occurrence of the food plant on Eggegrund, it is likely that the species is resident on the island.

Zygaena osterodensis (narrow-winged cinnabar) (Threat class 2) is among the most interesting butterfly species in Gästrikland. It is tied to woodland meadows with Lathyrus pratensis and montanus (meadow vetchling and tuberous pea) and has over a series of years been found at several localities in the Tröskentrakten area. The richest localities are power line corridors and open areas around Gustavsmurarna on both sides of the border between Gästrikland and Uppland (Källander 1993b). The species has now pleasingly also appeared in several specimens at Nyvreten in Mårtsbo (LEJ, 12 August). Since the locality is visited regularly by the farm's butterfly-knowledgeable inhabitants throughout the 1990s, the species has likely established itself recently. The locality is a small woodland meadow that after lying fallow for about twenty years has now been cleared and mowed again.

Eupithecia immundata (ochreate pug) (4) is tied to baneberry (Actea spicata) and is also relatively thermophilous. The species is distributed from Scania to Uppland with gaps in many provinces and has also been found in Ångermanland. The species' heat requirements mean that the appearance of localities varies from south to north. In Götaland and in the Mälardalen slopes with sparse mixed forest often in south-facing situations, preferably with bedrock or blocks exposed, towards the north increasingly tied to warm localities such as south-facing slopes and blockfields under south-facing cliff bases. In Gästrikland we have hitherto only known the species from Skarven; this year's rediscovery (KIC, SIN) was the first since the species was found at the locality in 1983. Imago usually flies from midsummer to the first week of July. Females lay their eggs in flowers and fruit buds of the food plant. The greenish-white knobby larva lives in baneberry berries and greatly resembles a fly larva. Berries containing living larvae are often shrivelled, irregular, with partially "healed" entrance holes filled with excrement. Towards the end of the larval period, the fully grown larva leaves the plant and pupates in the soil. This usually occurs in central Sweden around the end of July to the beginning of August, but the damage to the baneberry is clearly visible until the first frost nights.

Peribatodes secundaria (juniper carpet) is a spruce forest species that in recent times has invaded Sweden from the south. The first records were made at Kulla Gunnarstorp, Scania, in 1953 (Svensson 1957). Since spruce does not occur naturally between northern Germany and Småland, spruce plantations in Germany, Denmark, and Scania enabled the species' expansion northward. The species has since those first records rapidly spread northward in Sweden and reached Uppland in 1975 (Palmqvist 1976). Since then the expansion has proceeded much more slowly, and the species has required another 19 years to reach southern Gästrikland. The first specimen, a female, was caught by light trap at Lågbo during the period 15 August–7 July (KIC, SJN).

Hemaris fuciformis (broad-bordered bee hawk-moth) (4 ABC) flew abundantly in gardens and on woodland meadows around Mårtsbo during Whitsun 1994 (KIC, LEJ). The hairy butterflies hovered in the air around wood anemone, primrose, and garden night-scented stock and "fuelled up" on nectar. One of the species' favourite flowers is usually lilac, which at the time of observation had not yet bloomed. The species' larvae live on various Lonicera species; in Sweden usually L. xylosteum (fly honeysuckle), which occurs abundantly around Mårtsbo. Ragnar Östlund (1954) lists the species as "not uncommon" in Gästrikland without locality data. From more recent times there are reports of observations of H. fuciformis during the 1970s from Edskön (KIC) and Norra Åbyggeby (SIN). Insectifera's readers are urged to report all observations of hawk-moths to the editorial office.

Nola karelica (Karelian nola moth) (Threat class 4) was found in great numbers during the 1960s on bog north of Gustavsmuren; since then, despite repeated visits to the locality, the species has not been rediscovered. In connection with inventory work in the area in 1993, a female was finally found at a new locality, a small fen east of Gustavsmurarna (Källander 1993b). The species is extremely local and appears to be very demanding; its biology is, however, little known. In the literature there are a number of different suggestions for food plants such as Rubus, Vaccinium, and Andromeda (Skou 1991). On a visit to the classic locality on 16 July 1994, RYR caught a specimen of the species. The record is an indication that a population of karelica persists in the area around Gustavsmurarna. To date we have never visited the area at sunset, when karelica is considered to be most active. We intend to make a concerted effort and search for the species sometime in mid-July 1995.

Autographa macrogamma (Macrogamma moth) has this year been reported as a new species for Gästrikland. The record, which Göran (SIN) washed out of his collection, is from Norra Åbyggeby on 29 August 1978. The species has a northern distribution, is resident in much of the Eurasian taiga, and has moreover been encountered as a migrant in adjacent areas. It is known from all of northern Sweden, including all provinces bordering Gästrikland, and we have long been expecting this species. The larva, like most Autographa species, can live on a number of different food plants.

Cryphia raptricula (grey-shouldered lichen moth) lives on stone lichens and is distributed from Scania in the south to Västerbotten in the north with gaps including Dalarna, Hälsingland, and Medelpad. The species occurs at many localities along the Uppland coast and is closest known from Billudden. Typical localities are warm coastal rocky outcrops, old quarries, and open boulder fields. The first record from Gästrikland was made at Eggegrund on 2 July (KJC).

Eugnorisma depuncta (depuncta dart) was before 1994 in Gästrikland known from only one specimen from the light trap at Lågbo during the period 27 August–15 August 1992 (Källander 1993a). Another specimen appeared on bait on 2 July (KJC) in connection with the Eggegrund survey; the nearest known locality is Billudden.

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Table 1. New species for Gästrikland

No. | Latin species name | Swedish name | Locality | Reporter
183 | Montescardia tessulatella | Dotted fungus moth | Ovansjö, Österbergsmuren | (KJC, RYR)
185 | Morophaga choragella | Angled fungus moth | Hille, Ösasjön | (KJC)
348 | Argyresthia abdominalis | Lined single-needle moth | Eggegrund | (KJC)
396 | Prays fraxinella | White ash moth | Hedesunda, Lågbo | (KIC, SIN)
423 | Orthotaelia sparganella | Bur-reed moth | Hille, Hillemyren | (SIN)
466 | Depressaria pulcherrimella | Light-breasted burdock flat-body moth | Eggegrund | (KIC)
489 | Agnopterix hypericella | Pretty St. John's-wort flat-body moth | Hedesunda, Lågbo | (KJC, LEJ, FYK)
537 | Anchinia daphnella | Large mezereon moth | Gävle, Brännsågen, Skarven | (KIC)
553 | Elachista regificella | Magnificent fescue leaf-miner moth | Gävle, Mårtsbo | (FYK)
555 | Elachista quadripunctella | Four-spotted fescue leaf-miner moth | Gävle, Mårtsbo | (FYK)
659 | Coleophora lineola | Stinking groundsel case-bearer moth | Gustavsmuren, Långhäll | (KJC)
947 | Caryocolum viscariella | Catchfly case-bearer moth | Gävle, Mårtsbo | (KJC)
1104 | Cochylimorpha alternana | Bedstraw flower roller | Eggegrund | (KIC)
118 | Eupoecilia ambiguella | Grape flower roller | Hedesunda Lågbo | (KIC, SJN)
1155 | Celypha rosaceana | Purple-ground roller | Eggegrund | (KIC)
1237 | Ancylis mitterbacheriana | Oak roller | Hedesunda Lågbo | (KIC, RYR)
1206 | Apotomis sororculana | Minor clouded bud roller | Ovansjö, Österbergsmuren | (KIC, RYR)
1378 | Cydia splendana | Acorn roller | Eggegrund | (KJIC)
1472 | Amblyptilia punctidactyla | Monkshood plume moth | Gustavsmuren, Långhäll | (KIC)
1488 | Pterophorus baliodactylus | Mint plume moth | Eggegrund | (KJC)
1506 | Aphomia sociella | Bee moth | Gävle, Mårtsbo | (KIC)
1553 | Euzophera cinerosella | Wormwood moth | Eggegrund | (KJC)
1565 | Plodia interpunctella | Indian meal moth | Hedesunda Lågbo | (KIC, SIN)
1625 | Pedasia truncatella† | Truncate grass moth | Hille, N. Åbyggeby | (SIN)
1658 | Pyrausta aurata | Gold fringe | Eggegrund, 4 August 1994, 1st | (KIC)
2143 | Peribatodes secundaria | Juniper carpet | Gävle | (SIN)
2357 | Autographa macrogamma | Macrogamma moth | Åmot, Källsjön | (RPL)
2392 | Cryphia raptricula | Grey-shouldered lichen moth | Eggegrund | (KJC)

† The species has been found at several localities
‡ The record has not yet been reported to Entomological Bulletin.

Reporters: FYK = Ingmar Frycklund, KJC = Clas Källander, LEJ = Jon Lennström, RPL = Göran Rippler, RYR = Nils Ryrholm, SJN = Göran Sjöberg

Finally, warm thanks to all who have contributed to this report: Ingvar Svensson who has assisted with identifications of difficult small moths, Nils Ryrholm who has reviewed the manuscript, Ove Lennström for botanical consultation, and all of you who have contributed reports of interesting butterfly observations.

Literature:

Cederholm L. 1978. Name codes—a proposal for standardized personal designations in biology. -Ent. Tidskr. 99:135–141

Ehnström B., Gärdenfors U. & Lindelöw Å 1993. Red-listed invertebrates in Sweden 1993. Database for threatened species.

From J., Cederberg B., Källander C., Wikars L.-O. 1994. Species descriptions insects. In "Species and biotope preservation in forests". National Board of Forestry, Gävleborg County.

Källander C. 1993a. New additions to Gästrikland's butterfly fauna. -Insectifera 1(1) 28–33

Källander C. 1993b. Butterfly records from "the limestone area southeast of Gävle" 1993. -Insectifera 1(2) 27–32

Källander C. 1994a. This year's butterfly records from Gästrikland 1993. -Insectifera 2(1) 42–47

Källander C. 1994b. Eggegrund's butterfly fauna. -Insectifera 2(2) 8–25

Linnaluoto E.T. & Koponen S. 1980. Lepidoptera of Utsjoki, northernmost Finland. Kevo notes 5.

Lundin I., Bergström M., Grundström S. & Ståhl P. Meadows and pastures in Gävleborg. Regional Administration of Gävleborg 1993:2

Palmqvist G. 1976. More interesting records of Macrolepidoptera in Sweden 1975. -Ent. Tidskr. 97:43–44

Skou P. 1991. Nordic owlets. Danmarks Dyreliv Vol. 5. Stenstrup (Apollo Books)

Svensson I. 1957. New additions of Swedish large moths. Opuscula Entomologica 22:143–160.

Svensson I. 1981. Remarkable records of Microlepidoptera in Sweden 1980. -Ent. Tidskr. 102:83–97.

Svensson I., Elmquist H., Gustafsson B., Hellberg H., Immby L., & Palmqvist G. 1994. Catalogus Lepidoptorum Suecia. Stockholm (Swedish Museum of Natural History & Entomological Society).

Svensson I. & Palmqvist G. 1990. Checklist of Swedish butterfly names. Stockholm (Swedish Museum of Natural History & Entomological Society).

Svensson I. 1992. Remarkable records of Microlepidoptera in Sweden 1991. -Ent. Tidskr. 113:36–41.

Svensson I. 1993. Butterfly calendar. Hellberg's publishing, Stockholm.

Östlund R. 1954. Contribution to knowledge of Gästrikland's large butterfly fauna. -Ent. Tidskr. 75(2–4):208–220.