[Butterflies and day-flying moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Pleistocene terrace of Romanengo (Italy, Lombardy, Cremona)]

Abstract

In this paper the authors present the results of a two-year field-study carried out on butterflies and day-flying moths from Pleistocene terrace of Romanengo (Lombardy, Cremona), a relict highland isolated in the Padanian Valley. It was collected 2212 records and it was provides a list of 67 species belonging to 13 families. This list is supplemented by notes on biogeography, phenology and notes on vegetation preference. In particular the authors evidenced the dominance of European-asiatic (37%) and Paleartic species (18%) and the prevalence of eurychorousskiophilous (66%) o mesohygrophilous species (62%). It was evident the preference for seminatural anthropogenic grassland with mesophilous (37%) or nitrophilous-ruderal characteristics (19,1%). The conclusive analysis underlined the presence of two tropical species (Utethesia pulchella and Spoladea recurvialis) and the threatened condition of hygrophilous or stationary species like Heteropterus morpheus and Lycaena tityrus.

Keywords

• Butterflies
• Day-Flying Moths
• Padanian Plain
• Relict Woodland