Lepidoptera’s Biodiversity and Conservation in the 21st Century

Dear Colleagues,

The decline in Lepidoptera populations reflects the declines recorded in other insects, and it is likely related to ecosystem deterioration. One of the most important challenges of the 21st century is to reverse the decline of biodiversity and restore ecosystems.

Different environmental pressures threaten Lepidoptera all over the world, such as habitat loss and degradation, agriculture intensification, climate change, and afforestation. The vulnerability of Lepidoptera species depends on their sensitivity to local and global threats that impact upon them. Species dispersal ability (including migration), demographics (such as population size and density), trophic specialization (monophagy vs. polyphagy), and local adaptations might be crucial factors to determine species sensitivity.

According to the European Agenda 2030, biodiversity conservation has to be a priority. Specifically, we face the need to develop specific tools for conservation, such as action plans for threatened species, assessment protocols for sustainable agriculture, and models for prioritization of species and areas.

This Special Issue will gather a selection of articles addressing the new challenges in Lepidoptera conservation, from the understanding of the vulnerability at species, population, or community level to developing tools or local solutions for conservation. These aspects can be addressed in relation to different threats (i.e., acoustical, chemical and light pollution) and in different contexts (i.e., agriculture, urban context, or mountain areas). 

Prof. Dr. Simona Bonelli
Dr. Irene Piccini
Guest Editors

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