Habitat associations and occupancy patterns of burnet moths (Zygaenidae) in semi-natural pastures in Sweden

Burnets were surveyed in 100 semi-natural pastures in the province of Ostergotland, southeastern Sweden. We analysed the presence/absence of burnets in relation to habitat characteristics, and species richness of butterflies and plants. Five species were found (Adscita statices, Zygaena osterodensis, Z. viciae,Z. filipendulaeandZ. lonicerae), all occurring in 33%–36% of the localities.Amongthese,fourarenationally red-listed.Morespecieswerefoundon(1) large semi-natural pastures, compared with small, (2) low- to medium-grazed semi-natural pastures, compared with heavily grazed, and (3) open semi-natural pastures,comparedwithwooded.A.staticesandZ.viciaehadahigherfrequency of occupancy at localities surrounded by a large density of pastures, but the occurenceoftheotherspeciesdidnotrely onthisvariable.Thenumberofburnet species per locality was positively correlated with the number of butterfly species,andslightlypositivelycorrelatedwithspeciesrichnessofplants.Thedifference in species richness among burnets, butterflies and plants may be explained by different responses to grazing pressure; the species richness of burnets and