Eur. J. Entomol. 122: 210-218, 2025 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2025.026

Distribution patterns and species richness of Notodontidae (Lepidoptera) in the Iberian PeninsulaOriginal article

Fernando DE JUANA ORCID...1, João NUNES ORCID...2, José Luis YELA ORCID...3
1 Adriano VI, 7º-6º-izq., E-01008 Vitoria (Álava), Spain; e-mail: fdejuana@euskalnet.net
2 Rua Eduardo Joaquim Reis Figueira, 1104 AR, P-4440-647 Valongo, Portugal; e-mail: joaomiguelfn@sapo.pt
3 Grupo DITEG, Área de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda, Carlos III, s.n., Campus Real Fábrica de Armas, E-45071 Toledo, Spain; e-mail: joseluis.yela@uclm.es

The current spatial distribution patterns of organisms result from both historical and contemporary environmental factors, which can be challenging to identify. Previous approaches to the distribution of Palearctic and Iberian Notodontidae require revision. This study, based on the presence data of each species within 100 × 100 km UTM grid squares across the Iberian Peninsula, represents a first step in this direction. Of the 38 Notodontidae species reliably recorded from the Iberian Peninsula, 7 exhibit a Cantabrian-Pyrenean distribution pattern, 5 extend beyond this region to cover all of Galicia and northern Portugal, 7 are spread throughout the northern half of the peninsula and 11 are widely distributed. As each of these distribution patterns builds upon the previous one, the area of highest species richness is concentrated in the Cantabrian-Pyrenean zone. The number of species recorded in each grid square is influenced by the sampling effort and, to a lesser extent, by land area. However, regardless of these methodological factors, species richness correlates with two key variables: the geographical distance from the Pyrenees and the average spring-summer temperature. The decreasing gradient of species richness as one moves farther from the Pyrenees may be explained by historical southward expansions and subsequent retractions towards the continent. Additionally, the inverse correlation between species richness and average spring-summer temperature could reflect a progressive decline in species whose populations are phenologically suited to Mediterranean conditions.

Keywords: Phenology, climate, temperature, Spain, Portugal

Received: October 31, 2024; Revised: August 4, 2025; Accepted: August 4, 2025; Published online: August 27, 2025  Show citation

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DE JUANA, F., NUNES, J., & YELA, J.L. (2025). Distribution patterns and species richness of Notodontidae (Lepidoptera) in the Iberian Peninsula. EJE, 122, Article 210-218. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2025.026
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