Swedish Mountain Report

Intressanta fynd av fjällfjärilar i Sverige 2004

Ryrholm, N.: Intressanta fynd av fjällfjärilar i Sverige 2004. [Interesting records of Lepidoptera in the taiga and tundra regions of Sweden 2004.] ­ Entomologisk Tidskift. 126 (1-2): 77-84. Uppsala, Sweden 2005. ISSN 0013-886x.

This is the 11th report on interesting finds and events from the Swedish mountain range and adjacent areas.

The spring came early and was noticeably warmer than average. However, in May came a long and strong backlash with cold and unstable weather until almost mid
July. Therefore most lepidopterologists mainly experienced less suitable weather, which was a pity as more entomologists than usual went north in 2004, including people fromother European countries. Despite the weather most of the northern specialities were observed.

In the Abisko region species such as Hepialus fuscoargenteus, Pyrausta porphyralis,
Loxostege ephippialis, Pyrgus andromedae, Colias nastes, C. hecla, Boloria polaris, B.
freija, B. frigga, B. thore, B. improba, Euphydryas iduna, Oeneis norna, O. bore, Agriadesglandon, Entephria polata, Entephria byssata, Psychophora sabinii, Acerbia alpina,Grammia qvenseli, Holoarctia puengeleri, Syngrapha parilis, Sympistis funebris, Sympistislapponica, Anartomima secedens, Hada staudingeri, Xestia lyngei and X. lorezi.

In the lowland bogs species like: Synathedon polaris, Pyrgus centaureae, Colias palaeno, Boloria frigga, Oeneis jutta, Erebia embla, E. disa and Pararctia lapponica were found.

Particularly the Satyrines were occurring in higher number than average. In the last scattered woodlands of Jukkasjärvi most of the expected Noctuids were seen, for instance: Anartomima secedens, Hada skraelingia, Xestia gelida, Xestia borealis, Xestia laetabilis, Xestia distensa, with the exception of Polia lamuta which seem to have vanished from this locality.

This year three new species to the Swedish fauna were found in the far north. Lampronia standfussiella, Clepsis nybomi and Polia conspicua. The first two are presumably old members of the Swedish fauna and the latter a newcomer which might establish itself in northern Sweden.

There was a huge influx of Aporia crataegi from Ural region to the arctic parts of Finland first and second week of July. This invasion also spilled over to Sweden with a few finds north of the Arctic Circle where this species never have been found before.

In the southern part of the mountain range a number of species pushing northward and/or inland when the climate allows them were recorded for the first time when the warmth arrived in late July: Depresaria badiella, Eilema cereola, Nycteola degenerana, Idaea biselata, Euplexia lucipara, Mesoligia literosa and Mesapamea secalis.

Nils Ryrholm, Institutionen för matematik, natur- och datavetenskap, Högskolan i Gävle,
801 76 Gävle.

Nils.Ryrholm

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