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Habitat utilisation of burnet moths ( Zygaena spp.) in southern Sweden: a multi‐scale and multi‐stage perspective
Author(s) -
SARIN CAMILLA,
BERGMAN KARLOLOF
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
insect conservation and diversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1752-4598
pISSN - 1752-458X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-4598.2010.00084.x
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , grassland , habitat , lotus corniculatus
. 1. Habitat requirements and occurrence patterns of three species of burnet moths ( Zygaena filipendulae , Zygaena lonicerae and Zygaena viciae ) were studied at different life stages and different scales on the Baltic island of Öland, Sweden. 2. Larvae of all three species were more likely to occur in small‐scale patches (i.e. 1 m 2 ) with a greater cover of their most important host plants, Lotus corniculatus , Trifolium medium / pratense , or Vicia spp., than were pupae or adults, and were also observed on significantly larger than random plants. Pupation of Z . filipendulae took place in taller vegetation than preferred by feeding larvae and adults. 3. Adults of all species preferred different nectar plants of Asteraceae and Dipsacaceae , growing in sunny conditions. 4. A large‐scale analysis of occupancy patterns was made, evaluating the relationship between burnet occurrence and the area of meadows and pastures within 10 × 10 km grid cells in Sweden. All three species showed a significant positive relationship with the area of semi‐natural grassland. The area required for a 50% probability of burnet occurrence was 454 ha for Z . filipendulae , 925 ha for Z . lonicerae and 2055 ha for Z . viciae . 5. Conservation work should aim at preserving and restoring open areas rich in the respective host plants and nectar sources, with light grazing or mowing late in the season. At the landscape scale, burnet moths were favoured by a high density of semi‐natural grassland and management priorities should be directed to these regions.