Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) from meadows of Vinogradovsky District, Arkhangelsk Region, northern European Russia, with notes on recent intense expansion of the southern species to the north

Abstract

The Vinogradovsky District is located at the center of the Arkhangelsk Region, one of the largest federal subjects of Northern European Russia. Boreal spruce forests are the prevalent ecosystem type in this area, but large expanses of agricultural land and herb-grass meadows are also presented there. Based on the studies of 1,699 specimens collected from three meadow sites during period 2011–2013, we provide the first data on the butterfly fauna of the district, which include 56 species, belonging to 35 genera and 5 families. Our data reveal an intense northward expansion of many southern butterfly species to the Arkhangelsk Region, including migrants (Pontia edusa, Issoria lathonia, Vanessa atalanta and Vanessa cardui) and species that have established resident populations there (Pararge aegeria, Nymphalis xanthomelas, Aglais io, Lycaena dispar, Cupido alcetas). Quantitative data on species diversity and phenology of butterflies are reported, including analysis of structure of butterfly assemblages and their seasonal changes.