Artículo

Contribution to the knowledge of the spring butterfly fauna of the southern Anti-Atlas region, Morocco (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)

Contribución al conocimiento de la fauna de mariposas primaverales del sur de la región Anti-Atlas, Marruecos (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)

R. Verovnik
University of Ljubljana, ESLOVENIA
S. Beretta
ITALIA
M. Rowlings
SUIZA

Contribution to the knowledge of the spring butterfly fauna of the southern Anti-Atlas region, Morocco (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)

SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología, vol. 46, no. 181, pp. 81-90, 2018

Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterología

Received: 17 July 2017

Accepted: 10 September 2017

Abstract: Data from eight butterfly surveys, mostly within the last 10 years, were combined to improve the knowledge of the distribution of butterflies in the Anti-Atlas region of Morocco. The records from 40 localities are presented and discussed. A total of 54 species were observed, closely matching the known butterfly fauna of the region. Interesting records for the following species are discussed in detail: Papilio saharae, Zerynthia rumina, Euchloe falloui, Colotis chrysonome, Colotis liagore, Callophrys avis, Cigaritis allardi, Tarucus rosaceus, Azanus ubaldus, Plebejus allardi, Melitaea deserticola, and Spialia doris. Of these Colotis liagore is recorded for the first time for Morocco, and two eremic species known only from a few localities are shown to be possible residents in the lower Draa Valley in the Assa region: Colotis chrysonome and Azanus ubaldus. Although we add valuable new information on the distribution of butterflies in Morocco more systematic research would probably yield many additional interesting records.

KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea, distribution, Morocco.

Resumen: Los datos de ocho muestreos de mariposas realizados durante los 10 últimos años se combinaron para aumentar el conocimiento de las mariposas de la región del Anti-Atlas de Marruecos. Se presentan y discuten los registros de 40 localidades. Se observaron un total de 54 especies, lo que se ajusta a la fauna de mariposas conocida de la zona. Las citas interesantes de las siguientes especies se discuten con detalle: Papilio saharae, Zerynthia rumina, Euchloe falloui, Colotis chrysonome, Colotis liagore, Callophrys avis, Cigaritis allardi, Tarucus rosaceus, Azanus ubaldus, Plebejus allardi, Melitaea deserticola y Spialia doris. Entre estas, Colotis liagore se cita por primera en Marruecos, y dos especies erémicas, conocidas sólo de unas pocas localidades, se muestran como posibles residentes del bajo Valle de Draa en la región de Assa: Colotis chrysonome y Azanus ubaldus. A pesar de que añadimos una valiosa nueva información sobre la distribución de las mariposas de Marruecos, constatamos que estudios más exhaustivos podrían proporcionar interesantes registros adicionales.

PALABRAS CLAVE: Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea, distribución, Marruecos.

Introduction

Owing to diverse topography, geology, different climatic zones and most importantly the presence of high mountains, Morocco has the most diverse butterfly fauna in the Maghreb region with a total of 136 species recorded (combined from TENNENT, 1996; TARRIER & DELACRE, 2008). The bulk of the diversity is limited to the high mountains, particularly in the Rif and Middle Atlas in the north, which receive more precipitation and have many faunistic similarities with the nearby Iberian Peninsula. Further south, the fauna of the Anti Atlas is somewhat impoverished, but still includes several Mediterranean elements, especially at higher altitudes (TARRIER, 1996; TARRIER, 1997; TARRIER & DELACRE, 2008).

Based on exhaustive studies of Michel Tarrier one could conclude that the fauna of butterflies of Morocco, and the Anti Atlas in particular, is well studied apart from the skippers which were entirely neglected in his voluminous work. However, little precise faunistic information has been published on the butterflies of the Anti Atlas so far (DE PRINS et al., 1984; BOZANO & GIACOMAZZO, 1988; MÉRIT, 2014) or only vague descriptions of the localities are provided (e.g. TARRIER, 1995, 2000, 2011). In order to fill this gap we give detailed information on the distribution of the butterflies, including skippers, in the Anti-Atlas region gathered during recent surveys. The more important finds, including one new record for the country, are discussed in detail.

Material and methods

In the last 10 years eight independent visits by the three authors were made to the southern Anti- Atlas and its surroundings in order to study the butterfly fauna. The region was first visited by MR as early as 2001. The selection of sites and areas with potentially important butterfly habitat for the more recent studies was made before the trips with the aid of Google Earth images. Adult butterflies were either netted using entomological nets and released after identification, or identified in nature without capture.

List of localitiesFig. 3

  1. 1. 1

    . Taroudant, Tioute, within the village oasis, 440 m, 30º 23’ 39.21”N, 8º 41’ 57.72”W, oasis with mosaic of small fields and bushy hedges, 3-IV-2013

  2. 2. 2

    . Ouzzoun, Tiferki, along the road from Taliouline to Igherm, 1300 m, 30º 13’ 30”N, 8º 16’ 29”W, dry, bushy slopes, small gullies, 14-IV-2011

  3. 3. 3

    . Igherm, high plateau on the road 7037 about 2 km east of Adar village, 1810 m, 30º 7’ 41.82”N, 8º 21’ 4.00”W, rocky pasture, 10-IV-2009, 14-IV-2011

  4. 4. 4

    . Tata, Taangoumte, road verge in oasis at the SE edge of the village, 1200 m, 30º 1’ 12.73”N, 8º 18’ 22.52”W, rocky road side, sandy meadows, 18-III-2015

  5. 5. 5

    . Igherm, small valley on the road 7037 about 4 km northeast of Igherm, 1840 m, 30º 6’ 29.10”N, 8º 26’ 6.84”W, woody gully with dry grasslands, 10-IV-2009

  6. 6. 6

    . Igherm, along the road 7038 about 6 km west of the town, 1750 m, 30º 4’ 35.76”N, 8º 31’ 9.96”W, dry grasslands, abandoned arable land, orchards, 10-IV-2009

  7. 7. 7

    . Tafraoute, Amzawr, in a small valley NE of the village, 1580 m, 29º 49’ 53.48”N, 8º 44’ 32.26”W, rocky meadows, flowery banks of a dry river, 14-IV-2011, 17-III-2015

  8. 8. 8

    . Tafraoute, Imi n’ Guerdane, side valley at the village, north of Ait-Abdallah, 1500 m, 29º 50’ 11.94”N, 8º 45’ 59.14”W, rocky slopes, small meadows, 10-IV-2009, 17-III-2015

  9. 9. 9

    . Tafraoute, Azgour, dry riverbed and slopes W of the main road SW of the village, 1530 m, 29º 46’ 13.07”N, 8º 47’ 16.79”W, rocky meadows and slopes, dry riverbed, 15-III-2001, 16-III- 2001, 1-IV-2013, 6-IV-2013, 17-III-2015, 25-III-2017

  10. 10. 10

    . Tafraoute, Touli, small lateral valleys N of the main road above the village, 1620 m, 29º 45’ 17.81”N, 8º 47’ 17.05”W, rocky meadows and slopes, dry riverbed, 25-III-2017

  11. 11. 11

    . Tafraoute, Titke, small valley N of the village, 1530 m, 29º 45’ 2.07”N, 8º 48’ 54.17”W, rocky slopes, dry gully, 1-IV-2013, 6-IV-2013

  12. 12. 12

    . Tafraoute, Tizi’ N Tarakatin, in the valley NW of the village, 1360 m, 29º 46’ 56.95”N, 8º 51’ 59.34”W, dry river bed, 14-IV-2011, 6-IV-2013, 25-III-2017

  13. 13. 13

    . Tafraoute, SW side of the pass on the route 7056 before Tanalt, 1710 m, 29º 48’ 12.65”N, 9º 5’ 2.83”W, shrubby meadows with dwarf bushes, 8-IV-2009, 17-III-2015

  14. 14. 14

    . Tafraoute, Ait Yiftan, in a small valley at the village, 1490 m, 29º 48’ 54.35”N, 9º 2’ 30.42”W, grassy meadows and orchards, 6-IV-2013

  15. 15. 15

    . Tafraoute, north of Djebl Lekst on the road 7056 around the waterfall visible below the road, 1380 m, 29º 50’ 6.58”N, 9º 1’ 28.65”W, cultivated meadows, bushes, roadside, 8-IV-2009

  16. 16. 16

    . Tafraoute, Ida Ougnidif, S facing slopes above the road SW of the town, 1380 m, 29º 50’ 29.86”N, 9º 1’ 30.20”W, bushy and rocky slopes, 6-IV-2013, 17-III-2015

  17. 17. 17

    .Tafraoute, narrow valley few km before Ait-Iftene on the route 7056 from Ida-ou-Gnidif, 1290 m, 29º 50’ 42.36”N, 9º 0’ 40.26”W, abandoned meadows, rocky slopes, 8-IV-2009

  18. 18. 18

    . Tafraoute, Tiguissas, along sideroad at the bridge N of the village, 1160 m, 29º 52’ 28.17”N, 9º 0’ 36.60”W, ruderal area, road verge, 17-III-2015

  19. 19. 19

    . Tafraoute, Imhiln, slopes above main road NW of the village, 1300 m, 29º 55’ 35.40”N, 9º 0’ 32.52”W, dry grassy rocky slopes, 15-III-2001

  20. 20. 20

    . Tafraoute, small hill almost encircled by the road on the route 105 some 30 km SE of Ait- Baha, 1200 m, 29º 58’ 9.15”N, 9º 1’ 10.82”W, dry grassland on sandy ground, 8-IV-2009

  21. 21. 21

    . Ait Baha, Azour’n’Ali, at the turn for the village, 960 m, 30º 1’ 36.61”N, 9º 2’ 40.14”W, grassy meadows in dry hills, 1-IV-2013

  22. 22. 22

    . Ait Baha, Tlata Uoanass, in the small side valley near the reservoir, 620 m, 30º 3’ 45.41”N, 9º6’ 51.89”W, grasses in dry hills, 15-III-2001

  23. 23. 23

    . Ait Baha, Targua N’Touchka, oasis and the E side valley, 450 m, 29º 52’ 39.52”N, 9º 11’ 26.08”W, arable land, bushes, gravels, 26-II-2012

  24. 24. 24

    . Ait Baha, Ait Bibi, the pastures along the river NE of the village, 190 m, 29º 51’ 47.03”N, 9º 17’ 20.08”W, pastures, dry grasslands, arable land, 26-II-2012

  25. 25. 25

    . Tafraoute, small valley 5 km south of Agard Oudad, at the beginning of the road to Ait- Mansour, 1190 m, 29º 39’ 32.31”N, 8º 57’ 26.01”W, dry river bed, rocky slopes, 9-IV-2009

  26. 26. 26

    . Tafraoute, north side of the pass north of Tlatat Tasrirt town, 1540 m, 29º 37’ 56.88”N, 8º 56’ 31.95”W, pastures, rocky slopes, 9-IV-2009, 23-III-2017

  27. 27. 27

    . Tafraoute, Taghaout, in the gorge SE of the village, 1430 m, 29º 36’ 21.19”N, 8º 50’ 51.77”W, small gorge, rocky slopes and meadows, 16-III-2015, 23-III-2017

  28. 28. 28

    .Tafraoute, first part of the gorge at the settlement Ait-Mansour, 1260 m, 29º 32’ 54.58”N, 8º 52’ 45.26”W, dry rocky slopes, meadows in the palmery, 9-IV-2009

  29. 29. 29

    . Tafraoute, Ida Ouaassam, along small track on N facing slopes of the mountain N of the village, 1450 m, 29º 31’ 49.00”N, 9º 6’ 6.30”W, rocky and bushy slopes, 16-III-2015

  30. 30. 30

    . Tafraoute, Col du Kerdous, on the ridge S of the hotel, 1250 m, 29º 32’ 45.72”N, 9º 20’ 21.04”W, rocky slopes with sparse vegetation, 16-III-2015

  31. 31. 31

    . Tafraoute, Col du Kerdous, along the road down from the pass on N slopes, 1050 m, 29º 32’ 50.51”N, 9º 21’ 25.88”W, pine plantation, rocky slopes, terraces with cultivations, 16-III-2015

  32. 32. 32

    . Tiznit, Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa, dry river NE of the town, 450 m, 29º 32’ 23.38”N, 9º 26’ 49.09”W, olive trees plantation with artificial irrigation, 20-III-2016

  33. 33. 33

    . Tiznit, Mirght, pastures north of the village, 830 m, 29º 24’ 17.54”N, 9º 43’ 18.81”W, small wadi with sparse almond trees, 20-III-2016

  34. 34. 34

    . Tiznit, Mirght, slopes above the road to Guelmin SW of the village, 910 m, 29º 24.545’N, 9º 43.574’W, rocky and bushy slopes dominated by Euphorbia, 14-III-2015

  35. 35. 35

    . Assa,Targoumait, along the road to Assa 15 km SE of the town, 500 m, 28º 46’ 32.27”N, 9º 27’ 29.84”W, rocky and sandy plane with solitary Acacia trees, 15-III-2015

  36. 36. 36

    . Assa, edge of dry riverbed at SW edge of the town, 310 m, 28º 36’ 8.02”N, 9º 26’ 39.99”W, Acacia trees and bushes on dry rocky slope, 15-III-2015, 24-III-2017

  37. 37. 37

    . Assa, in the oasis at the town centre, 300 m, 28º 36’ 19.93”N, 9º 25’ 40.04”W, abandoned meadows, dry riverbed, 15-III-2015

  38. 38. 38

    . Assa, small wadi at the turn for Tuisgui Remz Jdid from the road to Zag, 290 m, 28º 26’ 46.37”N, 9º 21’ 56.33”W, dry riverbed with Acacia trees, 15-III-2015, 21-III-2016, 24-III- 2017

  39. 39. 39

    . Assa, Tistguezzemtz, oasis at the dam in the village, 230 m, 28º 24’ 53.86”N, 9º 13’ 1.21”W, bushy road verges, rocky slopes, ruderal areas, 15-III-2015, 24-III-2017

  40. 40. 0

    4. Assa, large wadi south of Ouarkziz Mts. Along the road to Zag, 250 m, 28º 22’ 45.31”N, 9º 23’ 11.52”W, bushy and sandy area with Acacia, 15-III-2015

Results

Table 1
The distribution of butterflies and skippers in the southern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. The numbering of localities corresponds to the list of localities in Materials and Methods section.
SpeciesLocalities
PAPILIONIDAE
Papilio saharae Oberthür, 187930
Iphiclides feisthamelii (Duponchel, 1832)3, 5, 9, 10, 17, 19, 29
Zerynthia rumina (Linnaeus, 1758)1
PIERIDAE
Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)15, 25, 28, 37
Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758)1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28, 32, 35, 37
Pontia daplidice (Linnaeus, 1758)1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28,29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40
Anthocharis belia (Linnaeus, 1767)1, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31
Euchloe belemia (Esper, 1800)3, 12, 22, 29, 31, 32, 39
Euchloe charlonia (Donzel, 1842)3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30,31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40
Euchloe crameri Butler, 18693, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 38, 39, 40
Euchloe falloui (Allard, 1867)6, 7, 8, 9, 35, 39
Gonepteryx cleopatra (Linnaeus, 1767)5, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24
Colias croceus (Geoffroy, 1785)1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24,25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38
Colotis chrysonome (Klug, 1829)38
Colotis evagore (Klug, 1829)4, 8, 10, 11, 27, 28, 38, 39
Colotis liagore (Klug, 1829)38
LYCAENIDAE
Callophrys avis Chapman, 190912
Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758)5, 9, 31
Cigaritis allardi Oberthür, 190916, 34
Tomares ballus (Fabricius, 1787)3, 9, 11, 13, 16, 19, 21, 22, 26,
Tomares mauretanicus (Lucas, 1849)8, 9, 12, 19, 21, 27, 34
Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761)1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27,28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 39, 40
Lycaena phoebus (Blachier, 1905)3, 5, 12, 14, 17, 18
Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767)5, 16, 27, 31, 32, 36
Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767)1, 6, 12, 15, 16, 26
Tarucus rosaceus (Austaut, 1885)7, 12, 32, 36, 38, 39, 40
Tarucus theophrastus (Fabricius, 1793)2, 3, 7, 12
Zizeeria knysna (Trimen, 1862)23, 24, 32
Azanus jesous (Stoll, 1782)38
Azanus ubaldus (Guérin-Méneville, 1849)36, 38
Cupido lorquinii (Herrich-Schäffer, 1850)13, 14, 15, 16
Pseudophilotes abencerragus (Pierret, 1837)7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34
Glaucopsyche melanops (Boisduval, 1828)5, 6
Aricia cramera (Eschscholtz, 1821)2, 5, 18, 25, 27
Plebejus allardi (Oberthür, 1874)3, 6, 7, 8, 9
Polyommatus celina (Austaut, 1879)5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 25, 26, 33
Polyommatus punctifera (Oberthür, 1876)3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 26
NYMPHALIDAE
Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758)4, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39
Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)15, 20, 23, 27, 30, 37
Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40
Melitaea deserticola Oberthür, 18764, 7, 9, 11, 27, 28
Melitaea didyma (Esper, 1778)3, 8, 9, 17, 19, 27, 29, 30, 32
Melitaea punica Oberthür, 18762, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 25, 26, 27, 30
Pararge aegeria (Linnaeus, 1758)1, 23, 28
Lasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767)1, 5, 7, 16, 20, 26, 29, 30, 31
Melanargia ines (Hoffmansegg, 1804)8, 12, 20, 31
HESPERIIDAE
Carcharodus stauderi Reverdin 191316
Carcharodus tripolinus (Verity, 1925)3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33
Gegenes pumillio (Hoffmansegg, 1804)36
Pyrgus onopordi (Rambur, 1839)3
Spialia ali Oberthür, 18817, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 23, 25, 26, 30
Spialia doris (Walker 1870)2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 38, 40
Thymelicus hamza (Oberthür, 1876)7, 12
Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer, 1808)16

Table 1 (Cont.)
The distribution of butterflies and skippers in the southern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. The numbering of localities corresponds to the list of localities in Materials and Methods section.
The distribution of butterflies and skippers in the southern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. The numbering of localities corresponds to the list of localities in Materials and Methods section.

Discussion

A total of 54 species were encountered during our surveys representing roughly 40% of the fauna of Morocco. The number of observed species exactly matches the number of species listed for Anti- Atlas (excluding Djebel Sioura) by TARRIER & DELACRE (2008), however the skippers are not included in their list. Given the fact that our visits were limited to March and April, thus excluding most of the late flying satyrids, the number of encountered species could be considered exceptionally high.

Among the most common and widespread species encountered during our surveys are hábitat generalists like Pieris rapae, Pontia daplidice, Euchloe charlonia, Euchloe crameri, and Lycaena phlaeas which thrieve in cultivated landscapes. Vanessa cardui was common and widespread only in years with abundant precipitation (like in 2009) when the region becomes an important source area for its migration to Europe (STEFANESCU et al., 2011). On the other hand, several rare species were observed and these are briefly discussed below:

The butterfly data coverage for the southern Anti-Atlas, and in Morocco in general, is still insufficient and there are many regions with very limited or no butterfly records. A more systematic approach is needed with future surveys targeted at covering at least some of the unstudied areas. Although the grazing pressure is less intense in Anti-Atlas compared to the Middle and parts of the High Atlas (authors, pers. observ.), negative impacts of overgrazing are evident especially around villages and areas with easy access. As butterflies are very sensitive to such anthropogenic pressure (Numa et al. 2016) our data will be of great value for future comparisons.

1. Melitaea deserticola is a typical eremic species widespread in Anti-Atlas.
Figures 1-3
1. Melitaea deserticola is a typical eremic species widespread in Anti-Atlas.