Faunistic analyses of the butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the Mt Etna area (Sicily, Italy)

The butterflies known from the Mt Etna area, Sicily are analysed. Eighty-four species are here recorded from within the boundaries of the mountain. A checklist is provided. Species data from 176 locations across the mountain are tabled and mapped for the 84 species. Of the 84 species recorded, 72 are considered resident, with 12 considered to be likely vagrants to the mountain. The analyses showed that of the 176 mapped locations, only 28 were from the western half of the mountain. This may explain why 18 of the more common Sicilian butterfly species were not recorded from the western side of the mountain. The data did indicate that Melanargia russiae (Esper, [1781]), Chazara briseis (Linnaeus, 1764) and Melitaea cinxia (Linnaeus, 1758) have very localized distributions on the mountain. Four of the resident species were found to be inherently rare, viz. Pieris mannii (Mayer, 1851), Leptidea sinapis (Linnaeus, 1758), Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767) and Pseudophilotes baton (Bergsträsser, 1770). The elevational zone from 500-1500 m was found to have the highest butterfly richness at 71 resident species excluding Boloria euphrosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) which is restricted to higher elevations. Polyommatus thersites (Cantener, 1834) is recorded from Sicily and illustrated for the first time. Despite strong anthropogenic influences on some areas of the mountain, the overall butterfly fauna was still relatively rich and abundant. A concern is the reclaiming of abandoned vineyard terraces on the northern slope where M. russiae, which has a very restricted distribution on this slope, has residence on some of these aban­doned terraces. Thus, it would be prudent to retain some abandoned terraces to ensure survival of these resident butterfly populations. Undertaking more butterfly sampling on the mountain would provide a more complete picture of the status of the mountain’s butterfly fauna.