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Citation: Verovnik R, Popović M (2013) Annotated checklist of Albanian butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea). ZooKeys 323: 75–89. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.323.5684
The Republic of Albania has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. However, due to its political isolation, it has never been studied in great depth, and consequently, the existing list of butterfly species is outdated and in need of radical amendment. In addition to our personal data, we have studied the available literature, and can report a total of 196 butterfly species recorded from the country. For some of the species in the list we have given explanations for their inclusion and made other annotations. Doubtful records have been removed from the list, and changes in taxonomy have been updated and discussed separately. The purpose of our paper is to remove confusion and conflict regarding published records. However, the revised checklist should not be considered complete: it represents a starting point for further research.
Balkan Peninsula, review, biodiversity, taxonomy, conservation
The Republic of Albania is situated in the Balkan Peninsula, in south-eastern Europe. It is predominantly a mountainous country with a Mediterranean climate, lying entirely within the Mediterranean ‘hotspot’ zone of biodiversity (
As in other European countries, the butterflies of Albania have been studied in more detail than other insect groups. However, there is a considerable disparity between the number of species that have been recorded. Many of these differences can be attributed to doubtful and undocumented records, along with changes in taxonomy and nomenclature. The number of species recorded from Albania varies from 167 (
As a result of this confusion, and with the prospect of new surveys, we present a revised checklist of butterflies for Albania, compiled from available literature and personal records. An updated list is essential for further faunistic studies, and provides a foundation for butterfly conservation in Albania. We discuss the species we have excluded but mentioned in previous lists and provide, where necessary, annotations for some species we have included.
The first comprehensive overview of the butterfly fauna for Albania was compiled by
The first local entomologist to publish a list of butterfly fauna was
In recent years, further new species have been added by
The butterfly fauna of Albania was summarized in the Red data book of European butterflies (
If we include all published and unconfirmed records, the total number of butterfly species for Albania amounts to 208. This provides a starting point for revision.
After a systematic revision of the butterflies recorded for Albania, and having included all recent taxonomic changes, the checklist contains a total of 196 butterflies. The nomenclature follows
1. Pyrgus malvae (Linnaeus, 1758)
2. Pyrgus alveus (Hübner, [1803])*
3. Pyrgus armoricanus (Oberthür, 1910)
4. Pyrgus serratulae (Rambur, 1839)
5. Pyrgus cinarae (Rambur, 1839)
6. Pyrgus sidae (Esper, 1784)
7. Pyrgus carthami (Hübner, [1813])
8. Spialia orbifer (Hübner, [1823])*
9. Spialia phlomidis (Herrich-Schäffer, [1845])
10. Muschampia proto (Ochsenheimer, 1808)
11. Muschampia tessellum (Hübner, [1803])*
12. Carcharodus alceae (Esper, [1780])
13. Carcharodus lavatherae (Esper, [1783])
14. Carcharodus floccifera (Zeller, 1847)
15. Carcharodus orientalis Reverdin, 1913
16. Erynnis tages (Linnaeus, 1758)
17. Erynnis marloyi (Boisduval, [1834])
18. Carterocephalus palaemon (Pallas, 1771)*
19. Heteropterus morpheus (Pallas, 1771)*
20. Thymelicus acteon (Rottemburg, 1775)
21. Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer, 1808)
22. Thymelicus sylvestris (Poda, 1761)
23. Hesperia comma (Linnaeus, 1758)
24. Ochlodes sylvanus (Esper, 1777)
25. Gegenes nostrodamus (Fabricius, 1793)
26. Gegenes pumilio (Hoffmannsegg, 1804)
27. Papilio machaon Linnaeus, 1758
28. Papilio alexanor Esper, 1800
29. Iphiclides podalirius (Linnaeus, 1758)
30. Zerynthia cerisy (Godart, 1824)
31. Zerynthia polyxena ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
32. Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758)
33. Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758)
34. Aporia crataegi (Linnaeus, 1758)
35. Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)
36. Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758)
37. Pieris mannii (Mayer, 1851)
38. Pieris ergane (Geyer, [1828])
39. Pieris balcana Lorković, 1970
40. Pieris napi (Linnaeus, 1758)
41. Pieris krueperi Staudinger, 1860
42. Pontia edusa (Fabricius, 1777)*
43. Pontia chloridice (Hübner, [1813])
44. Euchloe ausonia (Hübner, [1804])
45. Anthocharis cardamines (Linnaeus, 1758)
46. Anthocharis gruneri Herrich-Schäffer, [1851]
47. Colias aurorina Herrich-Schäffer, 1850
48. Colias hyale (Linnaeus, 1758)*
49. Colias alfacariensis Ribbe, 1905
50. Colias croceus (Fourcroy, 1785)
51. Gonepteryx rhamni (Linnaeus, 1758)
52. Gonepteryx cleopatra (Linnaeus, 1767)
53. Gonepteryx farinosa (Zeller, 1847)
54. Leptidea sinapis (Linnaeus, 1758)
55. Leptidea duponcheli (Staudinger, 1871)
57. Thecla betulae (Linnaeus, 1758)
58. Favonius quercus (Linnaeus, 1758)
59. Satyrium acaciae (Fabricius, 1787)
60. Satyrium ilicis (Esper, 1779)
61. Satyrium spini ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
62. Satyrium w-album (Knoch, 1782)
63. Satyrium pruni (Linnaeus, 1758)
64. Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758)
65. Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761)
66. Lycaena dispar (Haworth, 1802)
67. Lycaena virgaureae (Linnaeus, 1758)
68. Lycaena ottomanus (Lefèbvre, 1830)
69. Lycaena tityrus (Poda, 1761)
70. Lycaena alciphron (Rottemburg, 1775)
71. Lycaena thersamon (Esper, 1784)
72. Lycaena candens (Herrich-Schäffer, 1844)*
73. Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767)
74. Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767)
75. Tarucus balkanica (Freyer, 1844)
76. Cupido argiades (Pallas, 1771)
77. Cupido decolorata (Staudinger, 1886)
78. Cupido minimus (Fuessly, 1775)
79. Cupido osiris (Meigen, 1829)
80. Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus, 1758)
81. Glaucopsyche alexis (Poda, 1761)
82. Phengaris alcon ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
83. Phengaris arion (Linnaeus, 1758)
84. Iolana iolas (Ochsenheimer, 1816)
85. Scolitantides orion (Pallas, 1771)
86. Pseudophilotes vicrama (Moore, 1865)
87. Plebejus sephirus (Frivaldzky, 1835)
88. Plebejus argyrognomon (Bergsträsser, 1779)
89. Plebejus argus (Linnaeus, 1758)
90. Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761)
91. Aricia eumedon (Esper, [1780])
92. Aricia agestis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
93. Aricia artaxerxes (Fabricius, 1793)*
94. Aricia anteros (Freyer, 1838)
95. Cyaniris semiargus (Rottemburg, 1775)
96. Polyommatus damon ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
97. Polyommatus ripartii (Freyer, 1830)
98. Polyommatus admetus (Esper, [1783])
99. Polyommatus escheri (Hübner, [1823])
100. Polyommatus amandus (Schneider, 1792)
101. Polyommatus thersites (Cantener, 1835)
102. Polyommatus dorylas ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
103. Polyommatus daphnis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
104. Polyommatus coridon (Poda, 1761)
105. Polyommatus bellargus (Rottemburg, 1775)
106. Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775)
107. Polyommatus eros (Ochsenheimer, 1808)*
108. Libythea celtis (Laicharting, 1782)
109. Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758)
110. Charaxes jasius (Linnaeus, 1767)
111. Apatura iris (Linnaeus, 1758)
112. Apatura ilia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
113. Limenitis reducta Staudinger, 1901
114. Neptis rivularis (Scopoli, 1763)
115. Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758)
116. Nymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758)
117. Nymphalis xanthomelas (Esper, 1781)
118. Aglais io (Linnaeus, 1758)
119. Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)
120. Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)
121. Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)
122. Issoria lathonia (Linnaeus, 1758)
123. Polygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)
124. Polygonia egea (Cramer, 1775)
125. Argynnis pandora ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
126. Argynnis paphia (Linnaeus, 1758)
127. Argynnis aglaja (Linnaeus, 1758)
128. Argynnis adippe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
129. Argynnis niobe (Linnaeus, 1758)
130. Brenthis hecate ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
131. Brenthis daphne (Bergsträsser, 1780)
132. Brenthis ino (Rottemburg, 1775)
133. Boloria pales ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
134. Boloria graeca (Staudinger, 1870)
135. Boloria titania (Esper, [1793])
136. Boloria euphrosyne (Linnaeus, 1758)
137. Boloria dia (Linnaeus, 1767)
138. Melitaea cinxia (Linnaeus, 1758)
139. Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
140. Melitaea didyma (Esper, 1779)
141. Melitaea trivia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
142. Melitaea athalia (Rottemburg, 1775)
143. Melitaea aurelia Nickerl, 1850*
144. Euphydryas maturna (Linnaeus, 1758)
145. Euphydryas aurinia (Rottemburg, 1775)
146. Melanargia galathea (Linnaeus, 1758)
147. Melanargia russiae (Esper, [1783])
148. Melanargia larissa (Geyer, [1828])
149. Hipparchia syriaca (Staudinger, 1871)*
150. Hipparchia fagi (Scopoli, 1763)
151. Hipparchia volgensis (Mazochin-Porshnjakov, 1952)
152. Hipparchia semele (Linnaeus, 1758)*
153. Hipparchia senthes (Fruhstorfer, 1908)
154. Hipparchia fatua Freyer, 1844
155. Hipparchia statilinus (Hufnagel, 1766)
156. Chazara briseis (Linnaeus, 1764)
157. Pseudochazara geyeri (Herrich-Schäffer, [1846])
158. Pseudochazara anthelea (Hübner, [1824])
159. Pseudochazara mniszechii (Herrich-Schäffer, [1851])*
160. Pseudochazara amymone Brown, 1976*
161. Satyrus ferula (Fabricius, 1793)
162. Minois dryas (Scopoli, 1763)
163. Brintesia circe (Fabricius, 1775)
164. Arethusana arethusa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
165. Erebia ligea (Linnaeus, 1758)
166. Erebia euryale (Esper, [1805])
167. Erebia epiphron (Knoch, 1783)
168. Erebia aethiops (Esper, 1777)
169. Erebia triarius (de Prunner, 1798)
170. Erebia medusa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
171. Erebia gorge (Hübner, [1804])
172. Erebia rhodopensis Nicholl, 1900
173. Erebia cassioides (Reiner & Hochenwarth, 1792)*
174. Erebia ottomana Herrich-Schäffer, [1847]
175. Erebia pronoe (Esper, [1780])
176. Erebia melas (Herbst, 1796)
177. Erebia oeme (Hübner, [1804])
178. Erebia pandrose (Borkhausen, 1788)
179. Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758)
180. Hyponephele lycaon (Rottemburg, 1775)
181. Hyponephele lupinus (Costa, 1836)
182. Aphantopus hyperantus (Linnaeus, 1758)
183. Pyronia tithonus (Linnaeus, 1767)
184. Pyronia cecilia (Vallantin, 1894)
185. Coenonympha rhodopensis Elwes, 1900*
186. Coenonympha pamphilus (Linnaeus, 1758)
187. Coenonympha arcania (Linnaeus, 1761)
188. Coenonympha orientalis Rebel, 1910
189. Coenonympha leander (Esper, 1784)
190. Coenonympha glycerion (Borkhausen, 1788)
191. Pararge aegeria (Linnaeus, 1758)
192. Lasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767)
193. Lasiommata petropolitana (Fabricius, 1787)
194. Lasiommata maera (Linnaeus, 1758)
195. Kirinia roxelana (Cramer, 1777)
196. Kirinia climene (Esper, [1783])
The status of the following species is clarified. They are numbered according to their order in the checklist:
2. Pyrgus alveus
8. Spialia orbifer
Spialia sertorius (Hoffmannsegg, 1804) was listed for Albania by
11. Muschampia tessellum
The species is listed for Albania only by
18. Carterocephalus palaemon
The species is listed for Albania only by
19. Heteropterus morpheus
The species is listed for Albania only by
42. Pontia edusa
Its sister species Pontia daplidice (Linnaeus, 1758) is mentioned in several recent and historical lists (
48. Colias hyale
Records from this far South in the Balkan Peninsula are doubtful, and possibly refer to Colias alfacariensis. Nevertheless, the species does occur in central Serbia (
72. Lycaena candens
This species is listed for Albania only in
93. Aricia artaxerxes
Apart from its inclusion in
107. Polyommatus eros
Only the subspecies Polyommatus eros eroides (Frivaldszky, 1835) is known to occur in Albania. The nominate subspecies could potentially be found in the calcareous high mountains on the border with Montenegro, where it is known from the Durmitor Mts. (
143. Melitaea aurelia
The species is mentioned for Albania only by
149. Hipparchia syriaca
Although mentioned as a separate species by
152. Hipparchia semele
The exact distribution of this species in the southern and eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula is unknown, and the presence of two additional morphologically, almost indistinguishable, species, Hipparchia volgensis and Hipparchia senthes, makes identification difficult. Both these species have been recorded for Albania (
159. Pseudochazara amymone
Although its status as a species is questionable, we follow the decision taken by
160. Pseudochazara mniszechii
Based on external morphology and genitalia, the taxon Pseudochazara tisiphone (Brown, 1980) from northern Greece and Albania is considered to be conspecific with Pseudochazara mniszechii (
173. Erebia cassioides
Erebia cassioides is included for Albania only in the list of Red Data book of European butterflies (
185. Coenonympha rhodopensis
Coenonympha tullia (Muller, 1764) is listed for Albania by early authors (
In comparison with countries in other parts of Europe, the butterfly fauna of Albania is very rich. Greece, which has been more intensively studied over the years, hosts 235 species of butterflies (
There are several additional species listed for Albania in the available literature that have not been included in the current checklist: Melanargia lachesis (Hübner, 1790), listed by
Certainly, the list of Albanian butterflies is far from complete. There are several species that are known to be present just across the border in neighbouring countries, and are likely to occur in Albania. Apatura metis Freyer, 1829 is one obvious example. It is known from north-western Greece (
The authors are deeply thankful to Stoyan Beshkov for providing valuable missing literature. We wish to express our thanks to Milan Đurić, Dirk Maes, Bosse van Swaay, Chris van Swaay, Irma Wynhoff, Arthur van Dijk, and Martina Šašić for their companionship during our surveys in Albania. We thank Martin Gascoigne-Pees and David Withrington for improving the English of the final version of the text.