The disappeared butterfly found again in the Ljubljansko barje marshes

The disappeared butterfly found again in the Ljubljansko barje marshes

The PoLJUBA project has achieved a remarkable result, namely successfully growing and introducing over 150 specimens of the false ringlet butterfly (Coenonympha oedippus) to the Iški morost nature reserve. The achievement is of great importance in light of the fact that the false ringlet butterfly has not been seen in the area over the last ten years.

Aiming to prevent the extinction of the false ringlet butterfly in central Slovenia, the PoLJUBA project in 2019 began with growing the false ringlet butterfly in order to introduce and enrich the population in the Ljubljansko barje marshes. One year later they introduced 155 pupae of the false ringlet butterfly into the Iški morost nature reserve, where the butterfly had recently extinct, in order to start a new population.

The last population of the false ringlet butterfly in the area between Ig and Škofljica is estimated at about 400 to 500 specimens. At the presentation of the project in 2020, butterfly expert dr. Tatjana Čelik underlined that this ecotype of the population would certainly become extinct if efforts were not made to save it.

 Additional information about the project 

PHOTO: Tatjana Čelik, PoLJUBA project