Ecology and conservation of alpine Lepidoptera

Abstract

Although there are indications that Lepidoptera had started to decrease early in the twentieth century (Entomologischer Verein Alpstein, 1989), they have declined throughout Europe most markedly during the past few decades. This decrease is so strong that it has been noticed not only by lepidopterists but even by lay-persons. According to red data lists, about 40–50% of all Lepidoptera species occurring in Germany and Austria are endangered, and 2–5% of the species occurring in these countries have already become extinct (Ebert and Falkner, 1978; Wagener et al., 1979; Pretscher, 1984; Gepp, 1981; Huemer, 1994; Huemer, Reichl and Wieser, 1994). In Switzerland, 39% of all butterfly species are endangered (Gonseth, 1987), although no recent extinctions have been reported so far. However, in some areas of Switzerland the percentage of endangered butterfly species is distinctly higher. According to Bryner (1987), 53% of the butterfly species originally occurring in the Seeland (area between the lakes of Biel and Murten) have already become extinct, 27% are endangered, leaving only 20% of mainly trivial species unthreatened. The figure for moths, although much less well known, is probably similar to that of butterflies.