BUTTERFLY FAUNA IN THE VICINITY OF JAGODINA (SERBIA) (LEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIOIDEA AND PAPILIONOIDEA)

A total of 89 butterfly species (Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea) were recorded between 1993-2014 as a result of fieldwork carried out at 19 localities in the vicinity of Jagodina: Hesperiidae – 9 species, Papilionidae – 4, Pieridae – 14, Riodinidae – 1, Lycaenidae – 22, Nymphalidae – 39. According to the Red List status of European butterflies, one species (Phengaris arion Linnaeus, 1758) is threatened (EN) at the European level, and three species are considered as Near Threatened (Carcharodus flocciferus Zeller, 1847, Zerynthia cerisy Godart, 1824 and Hipparchia fagi Scopoli, 1763). Of particular importance are the protected species at the European level: Zerynthia polyxena (Denis & Schiffermüller 1775), Lycaena dispar (Haworth, 1802) and Phengaris arion (Linnaeus, 1758), as well as Glaucopsyche alexis (Poda, 1761). Due to the high butterfly diversity and abundance and the wide distribution of the mentioned qualifying species, the Jagodina region could be considered for as a potential Prime Butterfly Area (PBA)