Amazing updates and news in the world of Lepidoptera! Under construction…
This week, we’re revisiting a significant moment in local conservation history. In November 2005, Gefle Dagblad published an article highlighting the importance of protecting the deciduous trees along Testeboån. This piece emphasized the critical role these habitats play in supporting biodiversity, including the majestic swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon).
The article also featured Göran Sjöberg’s efforts to monitor these iconic butterflies and his call for reports from the public about sightings in the area. His work reminds us how community engagement and awareness can make a difference in preserving nature.
It’s been almost two decades since the article was published, but the message remains just as relevant today: protecting Testeboån’s trees and the wildlife they sustain is a collective responsibility.
Visit our museum to learn more about Testeboån, its rich biodiversity, and the ongoing efforts to safeguard these vital habitats. Let’s celebrate the natural heritage that continues to inspire us!
In the spring of 2012, students from Ludvigsbergsskolan in Valbo experienced the joy of releasing their painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) on Butterfly Road in Grinduga. Göran Sjöberg, who had helped establish Butterfly Road in collaboration with the County Administrative Board, was there to guide the students and ensure the butterflies were released safely. It was a day filled with wonder, as the children watched the butterflies they had carefully raised take their first flight into the world. The students expressed their excitement, with many saying it was the best school day they had ever experienced and that seeing the butterflies fly away was unforgettable.
For more details about this lovely event, you can read the full reportage!
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Göran and his extraordinary butterfly museum, located in the tranquil countryside outside Gävle. Göran and his wife, Gun-Britt, have lived in their charming yellow house for over 50 years. It’s the last house on the road, and his butterfly collection has grown so extensive that he even purchased an additional house in his garden to accommodate it all. Originally, Göran dreamed of installing a netted area there, hoping to let native Swedish butterflies fly freely in the summer months, but soon realized the challenge this would entail.
Göran’s passion for butterflies began when he was just 15. His fascination with nature first focused on orchids and birds, but after meeting his friend Clas Källander, a butterfly enthusiast, he was captivated by the beauty and diversity of these insects. Since then, he has tirelessly expanded his collection, which now stands as the largest in Sweden and one of the most impressive in the world. Göran started his collection in 1961, dedicating time each day after work to study and organize butterflies, carefully pinning each specimen and reading everything he could find about them.
Reflecting on his journey, Göran appreciates that his career was not butterfly-related, as it allowed him the freedom to devote himself fully to this passion. He notes that biologists and researchers often focus on one species or group, while his lifelong hobby has allowed him to explore the vast diversity within the world of butterflies.
Göran’s dedication and commitment have turned his personal interest into a remarkable archive of natural history—a treasure trove of knowledge for generations to come.
This study presents a comprehensive look at changes in moth communities over five decades in central Sweden. It highlights significant increases in species richness and total abundance of moths, recording over 34,000 individuals from 410 species. The findings reveal that while some species have disappeared, many new species have colonized the region, suggesting a substantial biogeographical shift in moth populations.
Interestingly, this increase in diversity coincides with a homogenization of phenotypic traits, meaning that the moth community has become more uniform in terms of physical characteristics. This shift in traits is linked to broader environmental changes, with generalist species thriving while more specialized species decline. The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring such changes, as moths play crucial roles in ecosystems, both as pollinators and as a food source for other wildlife.
Example of studied species, Orthosia gothica Entephria caesiata and Catocala nupta.
Franzén, M., Francioli, Y., Sjöberg, G. et al. Positive shifts in species richness and abundance of moths over five decades coincide with community-wide phenotypic trait homogenisation. J Insect Conserv 27, 323–333 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-023-00458-y
In a study published in 2017, researchers conducted an extensive butterfly inventory in the Ta Phin mountain area of northern Vietnam. They recorded over 26,000 butterflies from 231 species. The species richness curves reached saturation, indicating that most species present in the area were detected.
Such studies are crucial because butterflies are sensitive indicators of environmental change, habitat degradation, and land use intensity. By understanding butterfly diversity and seasonal patterns, conservationists can better monitor ecosystem health and prioritize conservation efforts in regions like northern Vietnam, where biodiversity is under increasing threat from human activities and climate change. This data helps inform strategies to protect both the butterflies and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Udaspes folus (Hesperiidae)
Franzén, M., Schrader, J. & Sjöberg, G. Butterfly diversity and seasonality of Ta Phin mountain area (N. Vietnam, Lao Cai province). J Insect Conserv 21, 465–475 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-017-9985-z
We are excited to announce the launch of our website, where you can now explore a glimpse of Göran Sjöberg’s remarkable butterfly collection. This is just the beginning – we’ll continue to update the site with more of his discoveries, research, and unique specimens. Stay tuned for future updates and new content!
