English abstract

The species monitoring programme meetnetten.be aims at collecting reliable information on priority species in Flanders. It consists of a series of monitoring schemes which were designed by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). Species are counted by volunteers in a standardized way under the coordination of the NGO Natuurpunt.

This report shows the first results of the butterfly monitoring schemes for the period 2016 - 2021. In this period we see:

  • a strong decrease in abundance of the Wall brown (Lasiommata megera), the Dingy skipper (Erynnis tages), the Purple emperor (Apatura iris), the Silver-spotted skipper (Hesperia comma), and the Grayling (Hipparchia semele),
  • a decrease in abundance of the Grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) and the Alcon blue (Phengaris alcon),
  • an increase in abundance of the Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus),
  • a possible increase of the Glanville fritillary (Melitaea cinxia).

For other priority butterfly species we are not able to detect a reliable trend yet. This is the case for following species: Ilex hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis), Mazarine blue (Cyaniris semiargus) and Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia).

 

Creative Commons-Licentie Westra, T., Maes, D., Van De Poel, S. en Onkelinx, T. (2022). doi.org/10.21436/inbor.70771847