Intressanta fynd av storfjärilar (Macrolepidoptera) i Sverige 2024

Abstract

This report marks the 52nd consecutive annual overview of remarkable records of
Macrolepidoptera in Sweden, incorporating a compilation of new national and provincial
records. Most data were obtained from the Swedish Species Observation System (https://
www.artportalen.se). In 2024, three “Macrolepidoptera” species new to the Swedish fauna
were documented: Luffia lapidella, Catephia alchymista and Acontia candefacta. Most
of the time from the last days of August until the beginning of November, there was an
almost continuous inflow of warm air masses from the southeastern and southern directions.
Primarily over southernmost Sweden, but occasionally all the way up to the Arctic Circle.
This produced an unprecedented influx of Lepidopteran migrants into the county as well
as neighbouring countries. Migrant species that were very rare a few decades ago, such as
Agrius convolvuli, Macroglossum stellatarum, Helicoverpa armigera, Nycteola asiatica
and Orthonama obstipata, are now annual visitors in the changing climate. Additionally, a
surprisingly high number of still very rare migrants on our northern latitudes were observed
such as Hyles euphorbiae H. livornica, Rhodometra sacraria, Herminia tarsicrinalis,
Eublemma purpurina, Trichoplusia ni, Spodoptera exigua, Lacanobia splendens, Xylomoia
graminea, Mythimna vitellina, Agrotis bigramma and Euxoa ochrogaster. Two particularly
interesting finds of resident species were also made. Eupithecia expallidata was observed
close to where it was initially found in SW Sweden, but also very surprisingly in northern
Sweden, indicating that this clandestine species might live in many more sites within the
country. Conisania leineri was reported for the first time in Sweden since 2014, showing the
species still, but barely hangs on to the coastline of the extreme SE corner of Sweden. Many
species continued to expand northwards or inland, likely in response to climate change, for
example Apterona helicoidella, Argynnis paphia, Eilema griseolum, Mythimna albipuncta
and Anorthoa munda. Conversely, several species showed evidence of contraction or severe
local declines, including Malacodea regelaria, Gagitodes sagittata, Eilema cereola and
Photedes captiuncula , associated with habitat loss due to overgrowth and intensified forestry.
A few rare taiga–related moths, such as Xestia distensa and Xestia atrata, also continued
to exhibit highly localised distributions with only scattered records. The total number of
Macrolepidoptera now recorded in Sweden stands at 1136 of which 16 are introduced.