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569
Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Maltese Islands
(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
A. Seguna
Abstract
An account is given of this first record of Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Maltese Islands.
KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Nymphalis antiopa, new record, Malta Islands.
Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758) en Malta
(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Resumen
Se indica a Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758) por primera vez para Malta.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Nymphalis antiopa, nueva cita, Malta.
Introduction
The Nymphalidae is a large family well represented in Europe. A few of them are strong migrants,
capable of extending their range during the summer months.
The discovery of Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758) in Malta is most interesting as it a species
associated more with colder climates, and its presence in Malta is best regarded as an accidental human
important, more so because the place where it was collected is very near the Free Port [where container
ships load and unload containers coming from all parts of the world], Bir¿ebbugia. The specimen, a
female in perfect condition except from some loss of scales on the left forewing, was found resting in a
shaded front porch of a house. It is very probable that the specimen reached our shores in the form of a
pupa, although the place of its origin, which could be from nearby mainland Italy or as far away as
Japan, will remain a mystery.
SAMMUT (2000) lists 9 species of Nymphalidae recorded for Malta. Two of these, Vanessa
atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758) and Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758) are migrants and breed in Malta.
The others, namely Nymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758) (SCHEMBRI, 1986), Polygonia egea
(Cramer, 1775) (VALLETTA, 1948) are recorded as rare migrants. Inachis io (Linnaeus, 1758)
(SAMMUT, 2000) and Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758) (SCIBERRAS & SCIBERRAS, 2006) are
recorded as an accidental importation. The remaining three, Polygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758),
Melitaea cinxia (Linnaeus, 1758) and Melitaea didyma (Esper, 1778) (BORG, 1932) have always been
regarded as doubtful records or misidentifications.
Material examined: MALTA, Bir¿ebbugia, Tal-Brolli Area, 21-VI-2013, 1 0, leg. A. Abela (in
coll. Seguna ).
Range: Europe as an occasional migrant in N. Portugal, N. Spain and eastwards through most of
Europe to north of Fennoscandia, south of Greece and European Turkey; throughout temperate Asia
and most of North America (TOLMAN, 1997). Generally it flies from 0-2000 m: occasional as
migrants / vagrants in barren terrain above 2600 m.
SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (164), diciembre 2013: 569-570 eISSN: 2340-4078 ISSN: 0300-5267
569-570 Nymphalis antiopa (Linn 2/12/13 16:57 Página 569
Flight period in Europe: Univoltine. South Europe, mid-June - July; Scandinavia, August -
September. Hibernated specimens appear March - June according to locality.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Mr. Alexander Abela and his sister Mrs. Josephine Ishmael both of
Bir¿ebbugia, for the capture and donation of the specimen and to Dr. Antonio Vives for preparing the
Spanish text. Also to my colleague Mr. P. Sammut of Rabat (Malta) for his useful comments.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BORG, P., 1932.– The Lepidoptera of the Maltese Islands: v + 25pp. Government Printing Press, Malta.
SAMMUT, P., 2000.– Il-Lepidoptera: X + 246 pp. Kullana Kulturali 12. Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza, Malta.
SCHEMBRI, S., 1986b.– Nymphalis polychloros L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Maltese Islands.– Central
Mediterranean Naturalist, 1(4): 84.
SCIBERRAS, A. & SCHEMBRI, E., 2006.– Short Communications. The presence of Aglais urticae (Lepidoptera:
Nymphalidae) in the Maltese Islands.– The Central Mediterranean Naturalist, 4(2): 136.
TOLMAN, T., 1997.– The Butterflies of Britain and Europe: 320 pp. Collins, London.
VALLETTA, A., 1948.– Polygonia egea Cramer, in Malta.– The Entomologist, 81: 150-151.
A. S.
‘Redeemer’, Triq l-Emigrant
MT-Naxxar NXR 3200
MALTA / MALTA
E-mail: seguna@onvol.net
(Recibiudo para publicación / Received for publication 31-VII-2013)
(Revisado y aceptado / Revised and accepted 30-VIII-2013)
(Publicado / Published 30-XII-2013)
A. SEGUNA
570 SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (164), diciembre 2013
569-570 Nymphalis antiopa (Linn 2/12/13 16:57 Página 570
