The application of IUCN Red List criteria to assess the conservation status of moths at the regional level: a case of provisional Red List of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) in Serbia

• Published in: Journal of insect conservation 2013-06, Vol.17 (3), p.451-464
• Main Authors: Stojanović, Dejan V., Ćurčić, Srećko B., Ćurčić, Božidar P. M., Makarov, Slobodan E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acontia; Animal Ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Butterflies & moths; Conservation biology; Conservation Biology/Ecology; Conservation status; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Endangered & extinct species; Entomology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lepidoptera; Life Sciences; Noctuidae; Original Paper; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Threatened species
• ISSN: 1366-638X; 1572-9753
• DOI: 10.1007/s10841-012-9527-7

Using a network of c.200 sample sites during the period 2000–2011, together with data from earlier sporadic studies and museum records, the status of noctuid moths in Serbia was assessed according to IUCN criteria. The noctuid Red List of Serbia comprises 223 species, of which almost 40 % are under threat. Two species ( Acontia titania and Helivictoria victorina ) are considered regionally extinct (RE), 28 are critically endangered (CR), 49 are endangered (EN), and 58 are vulnerable (VU). Additionally, 64 species are considered to be near threatened (NT), i.e., close to qualifying as threatened species in the near future, and 22 fall under the data deficient category (DD; inadequate information), with the likelihood of being included in one of the threatened Red List categories in the future. Apart from the threatened species, 342 species of noctuids are widespread and abundant in the area and belong to the category of least concern (LC). The geographical position and climate of Serbia facilitates high noctuid richness but the existence of a great number of threatened species indicates the need for further conservation of the group.