The butterflies of La Cassinazza

ILLUSTRATED CHECKLIST

Butterflies have very precise ecological needs and are tied to certain specific habitats, on whose conservation their very survival depends.
Their larvae are phytophagous, meaning that they feed on vegetable matter, while the adults feed on the nectar of flowers.
Because of their natural history, they are inextricably tied to plant life, and their existence depends entirely on the presence of plants and flowers.
Urban development, intensive agriculture, deforestation, and the draining of wetlands have caused many species to become rarer and, in some cases, disappear altogether.
Since butterflies can fly, then are able to quickly recolonise areas that are once again well-suited to their needs.

The first systematic efforts to study butterflies at La Cassinazza date back to 2000, with a study coordinated by prof. Groppali of the University of Pavia, with field work carried out by Giampio D’Amico (1). The following year, Giampio continued his field work, concentrating on a single species of great conservation value: the Large Copper (Lycaena dispar).

Starting in 2003, regular survey began which focused on butterfly-watching, and on obtaining photographic documentation of the species occurring at La Cassinazza. We thus have an illustrated checklist of all the species recorded so far.

INDEX

ILLUSTRATED CHECKLIST