Gone with the wind? <i>Condica capensis</i> (Guenée 1852), a migrant species new for Italy (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Pushed by southern winds, many Lepidoptera can fly from the sub-Saharan region to Sicily or Calabria in a short time. Thanks to a long-term monitoring program, we found for the first time in Italy a migrating specimen of Condica capensis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). This finding is likely linked to the strong winds blowing from North Africa just before the collection of the specimen. Condica capensis is considered to be a migrant to the European continent except for Spain, where it is resident. It is found across Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, and Australia.

Keywords

• Distribution
• long-term monitoring program
• Mediterranean Basin
• migration
• new record