A first record of eremic Pontia glauconome (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Pierinae) in Cyprus: an example of unavoidable wind-borne displacement by a Saharan dust storm?

  • Published In: Phegea, 2025, v. 53, n. 2. P. 86 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: John, Eddie; Evans, Stephen 3 of 3

Abstract

In late April 2024, much of the eastern Mediterranean experienced the effects of a Saharan dust storm that was particularly severe over Greece but extended eastwards to affect Cyprus. We report on the contemporaneous appearance in Cyprus of Pontia glauconome (Klug, 1829) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Pierinae), a desert species not associated with wind-borne dispersal and previously unrecorded for the island. We explain why we consider the source country to be Libya and highlight the need for the careful separation of Pontia glauconome from lighter summer forms of Pontia daplidice (Linnaeus, 1758). Dust storm displacement of Lepidoptera appears to be an infrequently reported occurrence, drawing attention to which may encourage further study into the possible arrival of other alien species by means of this natural phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Information

  • Source:Phegea. 2025/06, Vol. 53, Issue 2, p86
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0771-5277
  • DOI:10.6084/m9.figshare.28912271
  • Accession Number:185847725
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