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Very specific climate conditions determine unique vegetation
cover in the Curonian Spit that is critical for the diversity of insects and their
population size.
The Curonian Spit is the only place in Lithuania where sphecid wasps Podalonia
luffii and Crossocerus imitans are found. These two are included on
the Red List as well as the dragonfly Ischnura pumillo, which becomes extinct
on the entire extension area. This dragonfly is still common in the spit. The
striped earwig (Labidura riparia) -another species included on the
Red List - can be found on the dunes in the Parnidis Landscape Reserve, in Nagliai
and Grobstas Strict Nature Reserves.
Many ground beetles (Carabidae) species reside in the Spit. These prey
beetles are very useful. The most common are Carabus hortensis and Carabus
violaceus. Carabus convexus is very rare in Lithuania, but it is very
abundant in Smiltyne. Another rare species, the Weterhall ground beetle
(Masoreus wetterhali) was found on the Kopgalis Dunes. The ground beetle
Blethisa multipunctata appears occasionally. Cymidid macularis can
be found in the thin pine stands. The coastal tiger beetle (Cicindela
maritima) belongs to the group of insects, which become extinct very rapidly.
This tiger-beetle species is included on the Lithuanian Red List. The scant population
of coastal tiger beetles lives in the Grobstas Strict Nature Reserve. Its relative
Cicindela hybrida is common in the entire area of the Spit.
The predaceous diving beetles Hydroporus planus and Hydroporus incognitus
are rather rare elsewhere except in the scarce inland water pools of the Curonian
Spit. Water beetle Copelatus ruficollis lives there as well as Agabus
sturmi and Agabus subtilis, which are rare in this latitude. Together
with these water beetle species, the great silver water beetle (Hydrous
piceus) can be found in the still water pools.
Eleven of eighteen carrion beetle (Silphidae) species were observed in
the Curonian Spit. These beetles are nature's aides. One of them, Nicrophorus
humator, was found in Nida, though it is rare in Lithuania.
The pine chafer (Polyphylla fullo) is an adornment of the
Curonian Spit. This great June beetle lives only on the very southeastern edge
of Lithuania and in the spit. It appears abundant year to year, but usually the
single specimens are found only. Another inhabitant of the dunes is a dung beetle
- the aegialian scarab (Aegialia arenaria). The golden beetle Netocia
lugubris was found on Kopgalis. This species become extinct very rapidly.
Therefore it is included on the Red List of Lithuania.
The most common longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the pine stands of the
spit are: Monochamus galloprovincialis pistor, Spondylis buprestoides, Callidium
violaceum and the Timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis). Lamia
textor is rather common in the dune willow groves. Rare in Lithuania, longhorn
beetle species Rhamnusium virgo was found in the national park also.
Visitors of the Kursiu Nerija National Park enjoy colourful butterflies. A wonderful
picture appears in May, on the openings, which are overgrown with cuckooflowers
- hundreds of white butterflies with orange wing edges flitting in the air. This
is the orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines). Females have no orange
dots and they are much fewer than males. In midsummer, graylings (Hipparchia
semele) pour out of the thin pinewoods. An interesting thing is that these
butterflies in the Curonian Spit are larger than their relatives from other places
in Lithuania. The most colourful butterflies in the country: red admirals
(Vanessa atalanta), painted ladies (Vanessa cardui),
peacock butterflies (Inachis io) and Camberwell beauties
(Nyphalis antiopa) - are very abundant during their autumn migrations.
The latter are especially common in August when fallen ripe fruits attract these
butterflies. Painted ladies (Cynthia cardui), can be seen crowding
around the last autumn flowers during sunny days in October. The swallowtail
(Papilio machaon) and the purple emperor (Apatura iris)
sometimes can be observed also. However, these butterflies are temporary in the
spit, because there are not enough plants of certain species that are needed for
their caterpillars. The scarce large blue (Maculina teleius),
which is included on the International Red List, was observed near Nida once.
Caterpillars of this butterfly at first feed on burnet plants and later live in
the anthills feeding on ant larvas.
At night, the light of lamps attracts about one hundred moth species such as hawk
moths (Sphingidae), tiger moths (Arctiidae), various
owlet moths (Noctuidae), geometrid moths (Geometridae)
and lappet moths (Lasiocampidae). There are several unique species
among them.
The distinction of the Curonian dwarf pine stands is Theumetopoea pinivora.
It has been found only in the spit near Nida. Caterpillars of this lappet moth
live all together on pines. At night they creep in one line almost touching each
other and looking for food. These caterpillars are poisonous. There is a poison
gland at the base of each bristle. If the bristle breaks, poison gets out and
can cause skin burns. But it is much more dangerous for eyes.
The increase in the number of the pine lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini)
can cause much harm to the pine stands in the spit. But the most harmful to the
forests in the park is the gypsy moth (Limantria dsipar), especially
after several mild light winters. Caterpillars of the gypsy moth are very voracious.
The fact that just hatched grubs can be blown far away by the wind makes the danger
increase.
A very rare moth Lemonia dumi was observed in the Curonian Spit for the
very first time in Lithuania.
Eleven species of sphinx or hawk moths were caught in the Curonian Spit. Very
intensive migrations of the bedstrow hawk (Celerio galii) can be
observed in autumn. This is a very rare sphinx, which should be protected.
The richest is the owlet moths' (Noctuidae) family. About 200 of
400 species, which were registered in Lithuania, are observed in the spit. On
dunes, not deep in the sand, hide caterpillars of Scotia ripae. They gnaw
roots of dune grasses. Other characteristic dune moth species are Conisania leineri
and Photedes elymi. The hooded owlet moth (Cucullia balsamitae)
was found only on the seaside. It lives on dunes, which has sparse vegetation.
Only two specimens of the hooded owlet moth have been caught.
From 18 to 20 tiger moth (Arctiidae) species live in the spit. Very
rare in the country, the scarce tiger moth (Arctinia caesarea) was
observed in Smiltyne.
Quite a few new species of geometers (Geometridae) were found in Lithuania
during the last ten years. Several of them live only in the spit. Caterpillars
of Sterrha fuscovenosa feed on mosses. The lyme-grass is indispensable
for caterpillars of Mesoligia literosa. |
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Cicindela hybrida
Pine chafer
Orange Tip
Camberwell Beauty
Lime Hawk
Gypsy Moth
Grey Dagger Moth
Peacock Butterfly
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