The most remarkable migrants—systematic analysis of the Western European insect flyway at a Pyrenean mountain pass

Author:

Hawkes Will L.12ORCID,Doyle Toby1,Massy Richard1ORCID,Weston Scarlett T.1,Davies Kelsey1,Cornelius Elliott1,Collier Connor1,Chapman Jason W.134ORCID,Reynolds Don R.56,Wotton Karl R.1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK

2. Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, Sempach, 6204, Switzerland

3. Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK

4. Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China

5. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, Kent SE10 9LS, UK

6. Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK

Abstract

In autumn 1950 David and Elizabeth Lack chanced upon a huge migration of insects and birds flying through the Pyrenean Pass of Bujaruelo, from France into Spain, later describing the spectacle as combining both grandeur and novelty. The intervening years have seen many changes to land use and climate, posing the question as to the current status of this migratory phenomenon. In addition, a lack of quantitative data has prevented insights into the ecological impact of this mass insect migration and the factors that may influence it. To address this, we revisited the site in autumn over a 4 year period and systematically monitored abundance and species composition of diurnal insect migrants. We estimate an annual mean of 17.1 million day-flying insect migrants from five orders (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Odonata) moving south, with observations of southward ‘mass migration’ events associated with warmer temperatures, the presence of a headwind, sunlight, low windspeed and low rainfall. Diptera dominated the migratory assemblage, and annual numbers varied by more than fourfold. Numbers at this single site hint at the likely billions of insects crossing the entire Pyrenean mountain range each year, and we highlight the importance of this route for seasonal insect migrants.

Funder

Royal Society

UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership

Publisher

The Royal Society

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