Post by Sebbe on Oct 7, 2024 14:41:29 GMT
Tarrier, M. (2020): The Pieridae of Morocco (Rif, Oriental Region, Central Plateau, Middle Atlas, High Atlas, Anti-Atlas, Sahara). An updated and annotated monography.
www.calameo.com/read/005869828ec1f9ecf4561
Massif du Kandar (especially in the maquis of Mount Kandar, a little south-east of Immouzer-Kandar); Ifrane, at the Source Vittel from where my last observations are from 1995 (having become a vibrant touristic-recreational destination, this green natural haven has been transformed into the equivalent of an amusement park) and Col de Tamrabta (locus typicus, including the beautiful Pine Grove of Pinus pinaster, unfortunately now long emptied of all its flora and fauna); Col du Zad, Djebel Tarharhat, not far from Itzer. Apart from the fragile colony fairly recently discovered at the Col du Zad, all these populations have now been extirpated, including the Tarharhat colony, discovered shortly before the years 2000s.
There are also some other doubtful reports of colonies in Annoceur, or near the Takeltount Forest House, the Valley of the Rocks and the Holm Oak Grove of Lake Azigza, east of Khenifra. However, here in the Middle Atlas, contrary to the rule valid in the Rif, that the presence of the Dappled White automatically parallels the presence of the Iberis foodplant, even in suitable and strongly calcareous environments the presence of the plant does not imply the presence of the butterfly, apparently very sensitive to a set of very subtle additional factors. This is the case, for example, of the Holm Oak Grove overlooking the Mischlifera caldera, where Iberis odorata atlantica abounds on the berms along the trails but the butterfly is not seen.
Always reported as rare, including by its descriptor in 1950, I nevertheless witnessed some excellent population dynamics of this race in Kandar, until its habitat was ravaged. I saw the Middle White Atlas dappled fly there is abundance in March-April 1996-1997, before the whole local lepidoptera fauna was extirpated by the brutal destruction of the matorral caused by an extreme increase in livestock breeding, couple with the development of the area as a wild hog safari park. These activities have replaced the old marquis vegetation layer, including the critical Iberis odorata, into lifeless powdery soil.
There are also some other doubtful reports of colonies in Annoceur, or near the Takeltount Forest House, the Valley of the Rocks and the Holm Oak Grove of Lake Azigza, east of Khenifra. However, here in the Middle Atlas, contrary to the rule valid in the Rif, that the presence of the Dappled White automatically parallels the presence of the Iberis foodplant, even in suitable and strongly calcareous environments the presence of the plant does not imply the presence of the butterfly, apparently very sensitive to a set of very subtle additional factors. This is the case, for example, of the Holm Oak Grove overlooking the Mischlifera caldera, where Iberis odorata atlantica abounds on the berms along the trails but the butterfly is not seen.
Always reported as rare, including by its descriptor in 1950, I nevertheless witnessed some excellent population dynamics of this race in Kandar, until its habitat was ravaged. I saw the Middle White Atlas dappled fly there is abundance in March-April 1996-1997, before the whole local lepidoptera fauna was extirpated by the brutal destruction of the matorral caused by an extreme increase in livestock breeding, couple with the development of the area as a wild hog safari park. These activities have replaced the old marquis vegetation layer, including the critical Iberis odorata, into lifeless powdery soil.
www.calameo.com/read/005869828ec1f9ecf4561