HELP! What butterflies occur in Greenland?

jtylerwildlife · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 04:53 AM

Hi,
I'm planning a trip to Greenland in 2009, but nowhere on the world wild web can I find out which species of butterfly occur there. I know there are only 5 or 6, and that there is a high possibility of at least three of their names containing the name 'arctica' or similar, but I need the exact latin names of ALL the species. Has anyone been to Greenland in the last 10 years?
I'd really be most grateful for this,
Thanx a million,
jtylerorchids(AT)clara.co.uk
Jonathan

paul m · #2 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtylerwildlife

Hi,
I'm planning a trip to Greenland in 2009, but nowhere on the world wild web can I find out which species of butterfly occur there. I know there are only 5 or 6, and that there is a high possibility of at least three of their names containing the name 'arctica' or similar, but I need the exact latin names of ALL the species. Has anyone been to Greenland in the last 10 years?
I'd really be most grateful for this,
Thanx a million,
jtylerorchids(AT)clara.co.uk
Jonathan

Sorry, have no idea: the clasical book may be a bit out of date by now:
Wolff, N.L. 1964. The Lepidoptera of Greenland. Meddelelser om Gronland 159(11): 1-74, figs. 1-55; plates 1-21.

Unless someone here can help you, it might be worth contacting someone on:

Lepidopterologisk Forening

Good luck!

goosey · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 10:30 AM

Sorry Jonathan, I can't help either, but I am amazed that they can even be found in such a cold place, 3/4 of it lies in the Arctic circle

.

In Qaqortoq in South Greenland the winter is mild with as the coldest average temperature of -5.5° C, whilst the temperature remains above freezing from May to October. In Kangerlussuaq in the Arctic Circle, during winter the average temp is as low as -22° C, -strangely enough though - during the summer it is the warmest place in Greenland with mean temperatures of around +11° C in July!

I hope someone can help with the info you need, and if ever get anty photo's of these butterflies we'd love to see them - good luck!

paul m · #4 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 10:44 AM

On further thought, Greenland is biogeographically Nearctic so you might be better off contacting a US or Canadian society e.g. Butterflies - North American Butterfly Association

Guy F · #5 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 01:36 PM

Hi Jonathan,
I found this (very large!) pdf file which has some more information:
http://www.natur.gl/filer/Biodiversity_of_Greenland.pdf
It seems to say that there are 5 species in Greenland. It mentions four of them which are:
Northern Clouded Yellow - Colias hecla
Arctic Blue - Plebejus glandon
Arctic Fritillary - Clossiana chariclea
Polar Fritillary - Clossiana polaris

And, although they don't mention it on the file it would appear that the:
Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas
also lives in Greenland (and this would fit in with the file as they say there are 2 Lycaenidae butterflies in Greenland, Arctic Blue being one)
I don't know whether there are any species that they've missed out, but hopefully that should be of some help, and as Goosey says it would be great to see any photos you get of any of the butterflies.
Guy

jtylerwildlife · #6 (**permalink**) 16-03-2008, 08:13 AM

I'd like to offer my thanks, particularly to Guy F, with an apology that I didn't respond earlier. The wildlife of Greenland pdf file is most helpful.
Now I just gotta pray for good weather. The botany is amazing, with many arctic/alpine species at sea level that you'd have to climb high for in Scotland.
Thanks to all who responded. These type of websites are fantastic!
Jonathan

paul m · #7 (**permalink**) 16-03-2008, 06:31 PM

Let us know how it goes ... it's one of those things that you don't think about unless someone asks. I'd be interested to know how seasonal these are - do they just appear for a couple of weeks and then die off ... or whatever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtylerwildlife

I'd like to offer my thanks, particularly to Guy F, with an apology that I didn't respond earlier. The wildlife of Greenland pdf file is most helpful.
Now I just gotta pray for good weather. The botany is amazing, with many arctic/alpine species at sea level that you'd have to climb high for in Scotland.
Thanks to all who responded. These type of websites are fantastic!
Jonathan