Relict population of Glacies alpinata (Geometridae, Lepidoptera) in the Czech part of the Králický Sněžník Mt.

Spitzer, Lukáš; Kuras, Tomáš; Malkiewicz, Adam

doi:10.2478/cszma-2025-0011

Abstract

Alpine areas represent island-like habitats. In Czechia, such habitats are very limited in extent but host unique relict and endangered fauna and flora. Among the species exclusively associated with alpine (subalpine) habitats is Glacies alpinata (Scopoli, 1763) (Geometridae, Lepidoptera). Until now, this species has only been documented at the highest elevations of the Krkonoše and Jeseníky Mountains in Czechia. Its occurrence in the forest‐free summit area of the Czech part of the Králický Sněžník Mt., however, has not previously been explicitly confirmed. In 2025, we recorded the presence of G. alpinata in the summit area of the Králický Sněžník Mt. This represents the first documented confirmation of a relict, isolated population of the species on the Czech side of the border. The population, potentially threatened by climate change, may benefit from ongoing management measures such as mowing and restoration of alpine treeless habitats at the summit of the Králický Sněžník Mt.

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Relict population of Glacies alpinata (Geometridae, Lepidoptera) in the Czech part of the Králický Sněžník Mt.

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