Species

BackUdea azorensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997

Udea azorensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997

Moth (English); Traça (Portuguese)

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Crambidae
NT Near Treatened
IUCN Red List Status:

Countries of Occurrence:
Portugal - Azores

Archipelago(s):
Azores

Reviewer/s:
Danielczak, A.

Contributor/s:
Nunes, R. & Lamelas-Lopez, L.

Facilitators / Compilers/s:
Pico_Coll. ZMUC_photo Anders Illum


Assessment Rationale:

Udea azorensis is an endemic species present in Flores, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira and S. Miguel islands (Azores, Portugal) (Borges et al. 2010). It has a relatively small area of ocupancy (AOO = 136  km²) and a large extent of ocurrence (EOO = ca 20,300  km²). It is usually associated with native forest, occurring in ten Natural Forest Reserves of Azores. It is closely associated with native herbaceous vegetation of several habitats and have possibly two or more generations per year. Based on Ferreira et al. (2016) the habitat will decline as a consequence of climate change. The species is assessed as Near Threathend (NT) due to small AOO and decline in habitat quality.

Geographic Range:

Udea azorensis is an endemic species present in Flores, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira and S. Miguel islands (Azores, Portugal) (Borges et al. 2010), known from native herbaceous vegetation. Within these five islands it is known from four Natural Forest Reserves of  Biscoito da Ferraria, Pico Galhardo, Caldeira Guilherme Moniz and Terra Brava (Terceira). The extent of occurrence (EOO) is ca 20,300 km2 and the maximum estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 136 km2.

Regions:
Portugal - Azores
Extent of Occurrence (EOO):
20300 (km2)
Area of Occupancy (AOO):
136 (km2)
Elevation Lower Limit:
50 (m)
Elevation Upper Limit:
800 (m)
Biogeographic Realms:
Palearctic
Presence:
Extant
Origin:
Endemic Azores
Seasonality:
Resident

Population:

Udea azorensis is a widespread and relatively abundant species in native herbaceous vegetation of several habitats of the islands Flores, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira and S. Miguel (Azores). The species presents currently stable populations.

Habitat and Ecology

Udea azorensis occurs in several habitats with native herbaceous vegetation in the Flores, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira and S. Miguel islands (Azores). We assume that the larvae are specialist herbivores, and this moth may occur at almost any time of year (March to October), but most often in summer and autumn, with probably three generations per year. Altitudinal range: 50-800 m.

Major Threat(s):

In the past, the species has probably strongly declined due to changes in habitat size and quality, mostly the creation of pastures (Triantis et al. 2010). Managment of semi-natural pastures is critical for the conservation of this species. In some islands the input of fertelizers is increasing. The spread of some invasive plants can also be a problem (e.g. Hedychium gardnerianum). Based on Ferreira et al. (2016) the habitat will further decline as a consequence of climate change (increasing number of droughts and habitat shifting & alteration).

Conservation Actions

The species is not protected by regional law. Its habitat is in regionally protected areas (Natural Parks of Flores, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira and São Miguel). Degraded habitats should be restored and a strategy needs to be developed to address the future threat by climate change. It is necessary a monitoring plan for the invertebrate community in the habitat in order to contribute to the conservation of this species. A habitat management plan is needed and anticipated to be developed during the coming years. Monitoring every ten years using the BALA protocol will inform about habitat quality (see e.g. Gaspar et al. 2010).