Phegea53-3. Evidence for the overwintering capability of<i> Pelopidas thrax </i>(Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae)<i> </i>in Northern Greece, indicating potentially permanent establishment.

An influx of <i>Pelopidas thrax </i>(Hübner, 1821) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) is described from Northern Greece (area around the city of Sérres, region of Kentrikí Makedhonía, autumn 2023), in addition to a fresh specimen collected in spring 2024. As opposed to isolated specimens recorded from N. Greece lately, this is the first time that several specimens have been observed flying and nectaring together, behaving as an entire colony. This particular species was completely absent from N. Greece until recently, since it was presumably unable to survive local winter conditions. However, due to global warming and increasingly milder temperatures, there are serious indications that <i>Pelopidas thrax</i> is actually expanding its range from the eastern Aegean coast to the northern Greek mainland, almost surely breeding on the spot.