Marmalade hoverfly. Credit: Will Hawkes
A fascinating discovery reveals that over 17 million insects embark on an annual migration journey through a narrow mountain pass connecting France and Spain. Researchers from the University of Exeter have closely examined the migration patterns of insects in the Pass of Bujaruelo, a 30-meter opening nestled between towering peaks in the Pyrenees.
Recently published in the esteemed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, their study titled “The most remarkable migrants—systematic analysis of the Western European insect flyway at a Pyrenean mountain pass” sheds light on this remarkable phenomenon.
For four consecutive autumns, the team meticulously observed the vast array of day-flying insects making their way south through this pass. The data collected from this specific location indicates that billions of insects traverse the Pyrenees annually, establishing it as a crucial migratory route for numerous species.
These migrating insects originate from various parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, before converging at the Pyrenees.
“More than seven decades ago, Elizabeth and David Lack, two renowned ornithologists, stumbled upon a mesmerizing spectacle of insect migration at the Pass of Bujaruelo,” shared Will Hawkes, affiliated with the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
Their observations of vast numbers of marmalade hoverflies migrating through the mountains marked the first documented case of fly migration in Europe. In 2018, our team revisited the same pass to investigate the continuity of this migration phenomenon, documenting the species, quantities, weather conditions, and ecological implications of these migrants.”
2024-06-12 00:51:02
Original article available at phys.org