Are there butterflies in the Arctic?

Community and Forum → Insects biology and faunistics → Are there butterflies in the Arctic?

STIGMA, 15.06.2010 20:02

Good evening dear forumchane!!!

For a long time, I doubted whether or not to create such a topic, but still, I finally decided. Actually, here is the question: are there any representatives of the lepidopteran fauna on the New Siberian Islands, and specifically on Stolbovoi Island? I searched the Internet and did not find anything useful for myself, but the interest only increased. I ask this also for a reason, I myself travel to many places for work, especially in the northern, circumpolar and polar regions of Eastern Siberia. There are many friends and" colleagues", geologists like me, who are sometimes asked to catch a few butterflies from different areas. My friend has been working in the Arctic for several years at Stolbovo, Bennet, Kotelny, as she says, the climate there is quite mild, you can't really tell from the photo, but there is a lot of grass, polar poppies and various violets are blooming. I asked her to catch everything that flies there, she looked puzzled and said that she hadn't seen any butterflies in three years of working there. But I still hope that this is not the case, since many of the employees say that there are no butterflies in Transbaikalia, Chukotka, Yakutia and Magadan, they say it's cold there. I would like to hear your opinions and knowledge in this area. What to pay attention to and whether it is worth doing it at all-maybe there is nothing there except white bears. Thank you in advance!

P.S. If I wrote to the wrong thread, I apologize and ask the moderator to move it to the right one))

Comments

Likes: 9

Likes: 1

Likes: 3

Likes: 1

Likes: 11

Likes: 1

08.02.2011 20:44, STIGMA

I still haven't unsubscribed to this topic. A friend of mine returned from the Arctic, but could not please me. She did not manage to meet daytime butterflies, their absence was also confirmed by the staff of the biostation located on Stolbovo Island. They justified this fact by saying that all the plants on the island are wind-pollinated, although I'm not really sure about that. But there are still nocturnal ones, although small ones, she brought two small moths, moths or fireflies. Completely gray, up to 1 cm and very broken, I didn't even take a photo. But there are still beetles there, if I'm not mistaken, some leaf beetles, I brought only one, since I didn't order them at all, but they are abundant at the end of July. So here we go, on the trail. a year ago, a friend flies even more north, to Bennett Island, most likely the results will be the same,but I will hope that I attach a photo of the bug

Pictures:

_________________.jpg — (327.03к)

Likes: 7

Likes: 24

09.02.2011 0:07, STIGMA

the photos are wonderful)))
That's what I thought too))) Since every year I work in the circumpolar and polar parts of Eastern Yakutia. The set of butterflies we have is similar to Chukchi, eneis and belyanka are the same. In 2009, he worked at the northern end of xp. Kular, almost on the coast, across the strait is already Novosibirsk, there are quite a lot of butterflies, hecla, Hyperborea, callidica, boloria. But my friend either did not notice, or really looked a little weak))) although, according to her, the squad spent the whole season trying to find something. Although I am not surprised in principle, many of my friends working in Chukotka, Magadan, and Transbaikalia have been claiming for several years that they have not seen butterflies))))
By the way, special thanks to you, I often use your literature in the definition of northern butterflies)

Likes: 2

Likes: 1

16.02.2011 9:45, STIGMA

Do you have 450 thousand rubles for the helicopter? and you are ready to give them away?))))))
In relation to those places where no human foot has ever set foot, the entire north-eastern Yakutia, the west of the Magadan region and Chukotka are at your disposal and more accessible))
Novosibirsk is interesting by itself, but if you spend a lot of money and do not collect anything, it will be very disappointing. And helicopters are not taxis, you will fly there, and back as the weather allows and depending on what load they have, you can stay for a couple of months))) with firewood there is very tight). Without a normal weapon, there is also nothing to do, only rifled.
I myself constantly encounter this, getting to such places for two weeks is romantic, and if the helicopter doesn't fly, it's October snow and -15, and you're in a tent - not a romantic reality.

Permits to individuals in any way, only from organizations that are engaged in geological exploration or research. Plus border guards who often visit (they have their own helicopters) and there will definitely be problems with weapons)))

There is a biological station there, you can ask who they are and where they come from, maybe you can arrange with them, they have all the permissions accordingly, but I think your trip will be delayed for at least half a year))

Likes: 1

16.02.2011 16:28, STIGMA

Here's how to contact them I do not know, I'll ask, maybe a friend knows. It is necessary to get acquainted with them, you will still have to issue permits. I think this is quite difficult. The territory is huge, 11,665 km2 only Boiler Room, between the islands straits tens of kilometers - without motorboats can not do, but there is no transport, so just legs. In any case, you will not get less than 100-150 thousand rubles, now it is only about 30-40 one-way to Tiksi.
It is better to go to the mountainous part of Yakutia (north-east) or to Chukotka, there you will see enough tundra and glaciers, you will save a lot of impressions, you will save money, and you will catch wonderful fish.
And much safer)))))

This post was edited by STIGMA - 02/16/2011 16: 31

Likes: 1

16.02.2011 19:31, STIGMA

Well, the first one is unlikely, for example, Wrangel Island (closer to Chukotka) is quite well studied (there are a lot of insects there, but the climate there is much milder, there is generally a rich biodiversity) and there is a biological station on Kotelny since Soviet times for a reason, I think entomologists have not bypassed these places. As for what is new, there may be something there, or rather it should be, but these are years of work, and the season there is very short.
And there is nothing to be afraid of, you just need to take into account, Soviet helicopters taking off from acceleration, difficult conditions for moving around the islands, huge ice, thawing and cracks in them, spontaneously changing weather - all this is not the romance that it seems. Bears are more predictable in this respect.

Likes: 1

18.06.2011 19:41, STIGMA

For Cosine, you were interested in how you can get to Novosibirsk, so I'll tell you this, perhaps interesting for you thing.
My friend once again flew there to the islands, but just before that I met her, so to speak, to wish her good luck for the season, to remind her what and how much to catch if there is, to take a couple of beers on the path, and at the same time I told her that some people would like to get there. So, a friend told me that they are looking for an assistant and would be happy to see any adequate person of any specialty who would go to school with them, if he needs to do his own business, but would help in organizing the camp, firewood, in general, field cares on an equal basis with everyone else. I understand that very few people agree to go there, especially on their own enthusiasm and for 2-3 months. I think they could make you out to be something like a camp assistant, theoretically even a salary is required. Here's if you're interested.
This year, the two of them left together, but they didn't find anyone....but they asked me to find out if anyone is interested in the next season

This post was edited by STIGMA - 06/18/2011 19: 45

Likes: 1