EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 02 - 2022 Num. article: 2022/035

Spread of Cacyreus marshalli within the EPPO region


The pelargonium butterfly Cacyreus marshalli (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae - EPPO A2 List) is spreading within the EPPO region. However, it may be noted that no major damage is reported in Pelargonium production.

  • In Greece, where it was first recorded in 2010, it is now considered widespread from Macedonia to the Peloponnese, but not in the western part of Greece. In addition it was first recorded from Kriti in 2018. 
  • In Turkey, it was first observed in 2011 in the Aegean region. It is now also present in the region of Istanbul as well as in the Mediterranean region. 
  • In Bulgaria, it was first observed in the lower Struma valley in 2014, as well as in one location in the North-west of Bulgaria in 2018. 
  • In Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro C. marshalli was first reported in 2016. 
  • In the Republic of North Macedonia, C. marshalli was first reported in 2017 in several locations and seems to be established.
  • In Egypt, C. marshalli was first reported in 2017 and is now widespread in Alexandria Governorate.
  • In Israel, C. marshalli was first reported in 2019. 
  • In Serbia, one specimen of C. marshalli was observed in October 2020 in the city of Niš (Southern Serbia).

Sources

Başbay O, John E (2021) A review of current range expansion of Cacyreus marshalli Butler, 1898 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae) in western Turkey. Entomologist's Gazette 72(1), 59-63.

Franeta F (2018) Checklist of the butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Montenegro. Zootaxa 4392(1), 128.

Kolev ZD, Tsvetanov TS (2018) Clarifications and new data on the distribution of Cacyreus marshalli Butler, 1898 in Bulgaria (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). ZooNotes 122, 1-4.

Langourov SM, Simov NP (2017) New data on the expansion of the geranium bronze, Cacyreus marshalli Butler, 1898 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) in the Eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, with some biological notes. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 9 (suppl.), 301-304.

Micevski N, Micevski B (2017) Cacyreus marshalli (Butler, 1898) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) confirmed for the Republic of Macedonia. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum – Plovdiv 2, 17-20.

Milojković S, Vujić M, Đurić M, Tot I (2021) Geranium bronze, Cacyreus marshalli Butler, 1897–new butterfly species for fauna of Serbia (Papilionidea: Lycaenidae). Acta Entomologica Slovenica 29(1), 121-124.

Tawfeek ME, Aboughonim MA, Ramadan HM, Abu-shall AM (2021) Description of the pelargonium butterfly Cacyreus marshalli Butler (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae). Alexandria Science Exchange Journal 42(4), 951-960.