DIRECTIONAL PREFERENCES IN THE AUTUMN MIGRATION OF THE RED ADMIRAL (VANESSA-ATALANTA)

The paper describes the orientation performance of the red admiral in the course of its migratory movements through the Italian peninsula, a region where systematic studies of this butterfly species have not be en carried out before. Our results show that red admirals exhibit seas onal bidirectional migratory movements between breeding and wintering grounds. Orientation performances, directional preferences in the autu mn and spring were recorded and discussed; in addition, we have docume nted a progressive eastward shift of the main flight direction, during the autumn migratory season, which appears to be related to air tempe rature. Speculative explanations for this shift of flight direction, w hich has never been recorded before, are given.