About Mass Migration of Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa Cardui L.) To Eurasia in 2019

Vitaly Dobronosov*

Received: June 17, 2019;   Published: June 25, 2019

DOI: 10.32474/CDVS.2018.02.000149

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Abstract

Research purpose was establishment of distribution’s width of painted lady butterfly across Eurasia because of mass migration of 2019. The publications in media, private messages of detached onlookers and standard techniques of visual observations and photo fixings on routes were used. For assessment of abundance of butterflies, the method of the quantitative account of Lepidoptera for the biogeographical purposes by visual accounting of quantity of the met specimens on a route per unit of time was used. This method, despite many critical remarks for high relativity (inaccuracy), allows gaining an impression about the number of specimens in the particular territory without mass catching and, respectively, extermination of butterflies. The digital camera was used to photo shots. Field observations were made during migration of butterflies from May 25 to June 06, 2019 in the neighborhood of the city and in the city of Vladikavkaz and in Daryalskoe, Zakkinskoe and Digorskoe gorges. The statistical analysis showed that for May and the first week of June the butterflies were widely extended, both in Asian, and in East European parts of Eurasia. The obtained data generally confirm the assumption that penetration of painted lady butterflies on the East European (Russian) plain during spring migrations happens partially through the Caucasus, Central Asia, bending around the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, or over their water area.

Keywords: Painted Lady Butterfly; Vanessa Cardui L.; Field Observations; Mass Migrations; Eurasia; East European Plain; Caucasus; Central Asia

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