Lepidoptera (butterfly, macro-moth) records from Akrotiri Peninsula, Cyprus
Citation
Tzirkalli E, Aristophanous M, Makris C, Martinou A F, Roy D, Dillen M (2024). Lepidoptera (butterfly, macro-moth) records from Akrotiri Peninsula, Cyprus. Version 1.2. Meise Botanic Garden. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/97yemz accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-12.Description
Lepidoptera are a key component of biodiversity and are recognised as important pollinators. This dataset includes 298 occurrence records of butterflies and macro-moths from the Akrotiri peninsula, Cyprus (Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dekelia). In total, 143 species of Lepidopteran were recorded, including two endemic butterfly species Hipparchia cypriensis (Holik, 1949) and Maniola cypricola (Graves, 1928), as well as five endemic macro-moth species Agrotis sabine Brandstetter, 2010, Ammoconia aholai Fibiger, 1996, Dyscia simplicaria Rebel, 1939, Eumannia arenbergeri Hausmann, 1995, and Selidosema tamsi Rebel, 1939. Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda, 1761), a priority and Annex II species of the Habitats Directive was sampled within the designated Special Area of Conservation of Akrotiri peninsula. Butterflies were recorded using the line transect method, and moths were sampled using light traps, allowing the creation of an inventory of the Lepidoptera fauna of this ecologically important and biodiversity rich site.Sampling Description
Study Extent
The survey was carried out in Akrotiri peninsula, Cyprus (Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dekelia)Sampling
Butterflies were recorded using the line-transect method (Pollard and Yates 1993). All butterflies occurring within a band of 2.5 m on either side of a 200 m transect, as well as up to 5 m ahead were recorded. Transects were walked at a study speed, between 8 am and 5 pm, under favourable weather conditions. Macro-moths were sampled using light-traps (LedTrap, Dutch Butterfly Conservation) that operated from dusk to dawn. The data were collected across five habitat types, namely eucalyptus and acacia plantations, artificial surfaces, agricultural areas, forest and semi-natural areas, and salt meadows, between April 2022 to May 2023.Quality Control
Butterflies were identified by Elli Tzirkalli during fieldwork. Macro-moths were identified by Marios Aristophanous, Christodoulos Makris and Elli Tzirkalli using guides available for the European region (e.g., Hausmann 2001, 2004, 2012; Ronkay et al. 2012), as well as key websites (e.g., lepiforum.org).Method steps
- See sampling
Taxonomic Coverages
Insect, Lepidoptera (butterflies and macro-moths)
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Lepidoptera
Geographic Coverages
Akrotiri Peninsula, Cyprus (Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri & Dhekelia)
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Elli Tzirkallioriginator
position: Research Scientist
Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus
CY
email: elli_tj@hotmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7839-2150
Marios Aristophanous
originator
position: Officer
Department Of Environment, Ministry Of Agriculture, Rural Development And Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
CY
email: marios.aristophanous@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2602-9560
C. Makris
originator
position: Lepidoptera expert
NA
CY
email: r.c.makris@cytanet.com.cy
Angeliki F Martinou
originator
position: Head Entomologist
Joint Services Health Unit, British Forces Cyprus & The Cyprus Institute
CY
email: af.martinou@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2892-8583
David Roy
originator
position: Head of the Biological Records Centre
UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
GB
email: dbr@ceh.ac.uk
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5147-0331
Mathias Dillen
metadata author
position: Biodiversity Data Scientist
Meise Botanic Garden
BE
email: mathias.dillen@plantentuinmeise.be
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3973-1252
Mathias Dillen
user
email: mathias.dillen@plantentuinmeise.be
Elli Tzirkalli
administrative point of contact
position: Research Scientist
Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus
CY
email: elli_tj@hotmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7839-2150