Spain - Canary lslands

PRIME BUTTERFLY AREAS IN EUROPE

Spain - Canary lslands Martin Wiemers

General introduction The Canary lslands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean, and have an area of 7.447 km 2 . They are mountainous islands (the Pico del Teide, 3,718 m, is the highest peak in Spain) with deep ravines, cliffs and precipices. One Prime Butterfly Area has been identified, covering 5,000 ha (Map 1).

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Map

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Location of the Prime Butterfly Area on the Spanish Canary lslands.

lmportance for butterflies There are 32 species of butterflies in the Canary lslands according to Wiemers (1995), eleven of which are endemic taxa . At least three of the 32 species have only recently, or temporarily, been introduced. Two additional species that have since been reported (Syntarucus pirithous and Cacyreus marshalli), are recent introductions. Many of the other species have probably been introduced in historic times. The trend of most species is unknown, but Vanessa virginiensis is endangered and possibly no Ionger has a permanent population. Pieris cheiranthi is considered threatened and is already extinct on one island (Wiemers, 1992). Gonepteryx cleobule is vulnerable because it is confined to laurisilva forest, which itself is a threatened plant community. Two species are considered threatened in Europe. There is only one target species, Pieris cheiranthi, which is endemic to these islands.


Information sources There is no recording scheme, but historical and recent distribution records are available, most of them with a 1 km2 resolution; the recording Ievel is moderate. Distribution maps containing all 2089 records known until 1993 have been published (Wiemers, 1995).

References Wiemers, M. (1992) Pieris brassicae brassicae (LINNAEus, 1758) auf Lanzarote - Erstnachweis für die Kanarischen Inseln . Atalanta 23, 103-106. Wiemers, M. (1995) The butterflies of the Canary lslands . A survey on their distribution , biology and ecology (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea). Linneana belgica 15, 63-118.

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Los Tiles

Spain - Canary lslands

Alternative names: Los Tilos

CAN-01

Administrative region: La Palma Coordinates: 28° 41' N-17° 45'W to 28° 49' N-17°51'W Attitude: 0-2300 m Area : 5000 ha

General description The site is one of the largest and best preserved remaining laurisilva forests (with Laurus azorica, Ocotea foetens and Persea indica) within the Canary lslands, and has spectacular ravines. lt contains the habitats of many La Palma and Canary lslands endemic plants and animals, including the butterflies Gonepteryx c/eobule palmae, Hipparchia (wyssii) tilosi and Cyclyrius webbianus.

Butterflies Species Pieris cheiranthi

Approximate number of breeding areas 11-100

Post 1990 data Trend Key habitats available yes unknown 45. 62

Protection and threats Protection status: 5: protected Iandscape Proteeted areas within PBA: Los Tiles UNESCO MAB biosphere reserve (13,931 ha) since 1998 with its core zone "El Canal y Los Tiles" (511 ha), original biosphere reserve since 1993; El Parque Natural de las Nieves Land use: forestry, nature conservation, tourism, water supply General threats (in order of importance): land drainage, felling/destruction of woodland, burning of vegetation


Conservation issues The greatest concern is about the over-extraction of water, which is supplied via pipelines to coastal areas (e.g. for agriculture), causing most river beds to dry up. A hydroelectric power plant is within the core zone of the biosphere reserve in Bco. del Agua (near Los Sauces). Another Bco. del Agua, a site of scientific interest, is found near Tenagua! Remarks This is one of the last areas where Pieris cheiranthi survives in a natural habitat on local, endemic larval foodplants, Crambe species. ln other areas, especially on Tenerife, it survives on the introduced Tropaeolum majus. The butterfly seems to be extinct on Gomera since 1974.

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