O. Merkl szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 67. (Budapest, 2006)
found at Gyula-Városerdő in 2005 (SÁRÁN, unpubl.). VARGA (1996) has reported Neptis sappho (PALLAS, 1771) from the Sebesfoki-erdő (= forest) at Doboz, while the author found it at Gyula-Városerdő in 2000. This mesophilous woodland species is extremely rare in the south-eastern part of the Hungarian Great Plain, but it was common in 1993, near Sebi§ in the upper valley of the river Fehér-Körös, in the southern parts of Bihor Mts (Romania) (SÁFIÁN, unpubl.). Fauna components and zoogeographical classification of the species is according to VARGA et al. (2005). It is also possible that colonies of the two Eriogaster species form a metapopulation in the Körös Valley but the confirmation of this theory requires more data on the distribution, ecology and genetics on the known populations. CONSERVATION Both Eriogaster lanestris and Eriogaster catax are protected by the Decree of the Ministry of Environment 13/2001. (V. 9.) (KÖM 2001). The Hungarian National Biodiversity Monitoring System recommends the inclusion of E. catax in the optimal monitoring programme (RONKAY 1997). E. catax appears on the Annex II of Bern Convention on Conservation (COUNCIL OF EUROPE 1979) and is listed on the Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive of Council of Europe (COUNCIL OF EUROPE 1992). It is given Actually Endangered (AV) status in the Hungarian Red Data Book (VARGA 1989) while is listed on the IUCN (2004) Red List as Data Deficient (DD) species, on whose distribution, ecology and conservation status further research is needed. The main threats of the Eriogaster populations in the Körös Valley are mainly the direct destruction of the habitats: re-afforestation with introduced Robinia pseudoacacia and hybrid poplar cultivars (Populus x l eurame ricana''), or erosion of the habitat quality by the impact of the fallow deer population on the structure and species components of the forest edges. Cutting the blackthorn bushes by local farmers is also a growing problem. Without active habitat protection the continuous effect of these threats would lead to the fragmentation of the habitat, which would increase the risk of extinction of the species. Considering that other species with EU community interest (Natura 2000) status have breeding populations in the Körös Valley, such as: Parnassius mnemosyne (LINNAEUS, 1758) (Gyula, Dénesmajor, Doboz), Zerynthia polyxena ([DENIS et SCHIFFERMÜLLER], 1775) (Gyula, Doboz), Dioszeghyana schmidtii (DlÓSZEGHY, 1835) (Gyula, Gerla, Doboz, Bélmegyer) and Gortyna borelii lunata (FREYER, 1835) (Bélmegyer, Gyula, SarkadRemete) a complex habitat evaluation and rehabilitation must be carried out by the
