Papers by Francesca Martelli
Journal of Insect Conservation, 2019
Cacyreus marshalli (Butler, 1898) is the only alien butterfly species in Italy, introduced from S... more Cacyreus marshalli (Butler, 1898) is the only alien butterfly species in Italy, introduced from Southern Africa via the trade of ornamental Pelargonium plants (family Geraniaceae). In 2008, Quacchia and colleagues demonstrated that if Pelargonium plants are not available, females can lay eggs on Geranium spp., developing fertile offspring. C. marshalli is a thermophilous species, but in recent years some adults have been observed flying far from villages and at high altitudes (up to 2400 m a.s.l.) in the Orco valley (Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley). Due to the potential threat to native Geranium-consuming lycaenids and to evaluate the risk of naturalisation, we investigated: (i) dispersal abilities of gravid females, outside the National Park to avoid accidental establishment of the invasive species; (ii) pelargonium distribution and abundance; (iii) oviposition behaviour and preimaginal distribution; (iv) citizen care practices with pelargoniums. Pelargoniums were counted in the Orco Valley (5455 plants) and eggs and larvae were counted on 348 pelargoniums chosen on the basis of isolation and altitude. Flight experiments suggested that females were able to overcome barriers and fly at least 550 m looking for host plants. Eggs and larvae were unexpectedly abundant, but models showed that there was a temperature limit which prevented upward expansion of C. marshalli. Citizens were given a questionnaire to complete to investigate their propensity to replace pelargonium with other ornamental plants. We discuss the possibility of eradicating C. marshalli in the protected area in the light of our results.
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Posters by Francesca Martelli
ECSA (European Citizen Science Association) Conference 2020, 2020
Farfalle in ToUr is an innovative Citizen Science project that promotes social inclusion through ... more Farfalle in ToUr is an innovative Citizen Science project that promotes social inclusion through butterfly conservation in Turin urban areas (NW Italy). The project was born in 2014 thanks to the proposal of doctors of Mental Health Centres, who immediately involved scientists. Farfalle in ToUr involves fragile people, in all the project activities: creating butterfly gardens with suitable native plants, observing and recording butterflies, managing the website, training other volunteers, engaging stakeholders. Creating connections between green areas means at first allowing butterflies to overcome urban barriers, and at the same time, helping users to fight isolation and social stigma.
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Conference: Butterfly Conservation 8th International Symposium, 2018
Originally from Southern Africa, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) is an invasive species in E... more Originally from Southern Africa, Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) is an invasive species in Europe, where its larvae pest Pelargonium spp. Because of the potential threat for native Geranium-consuming lycaenids (Quacchia et al. 2008) to evaluate the risk of naturalisation, we investigate in Gran Paradiso National Park: i) C. marshalli current population size; ii) Pelargonium distribution and abundance; iii) Dispersal abilities of gravid females; iv) Current distribution, through the application of Species Distribution Models (Maxent). We selected 30 study sites, within an isolation (distance from towns) and food plant density gradient. We checked 258 Pelargonium plants and about 53% of them were colonised. The analysis of C. marshalli presence showed that eggs density is higher in areas with lower food plant density. Peripheral areas revealed a lower occurrence of eggs compared to town centre and also the number of residents positively influenced the colonization rate. Females are able to overcome barriers, as trees, but the risk of spreading into natural high altitude areas currently emerges as low. Indeed, about 1% of the protected area has a probability of presence for the species above 0.5 (the peak of presence probability is around 1000 m a.s.l., with a constant decrease at higher altitude).
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Future 4 Butterflies In Europe - International Symposium, 2016
“Farfalle in Tour” is a completely new citizen science project that starts from citizen and not f... more “Farfalle in Tour” is a completely new citizen science project that starts from citizen and not from scientists. In fact the project was born from a particularly group of citizen: doctors and users of mental health centers of Turin. The project is a metaphor: like the butterflies that need flying from one green area to another and meet each others, taking care of them together is the necessary enrichment to come out from a relational isolation, which feeds the pleasure to do things together. So mental-care users and the staff of educators became available to the science and have developed the project that gets them involved in the activities. Mental health centers of Turin are surrounded by green spaces so far uncultivated or managed to urban garden. Through the 'Farfalle in Tour' project, green areas are transformed into oases attractive to butterflies with nectar sources (i.e native Thymus, Oreganum, Lavandula) and foodplants (i.e Plantago, Ferula, Crataegus). Butterflies that reach the oases are annotated and photographed by patients. All the data are validated by scientists and published on the website. The project involves also primary schools, where patient and student observe the development of some visible species like Papilio machaon and Aglais urticae. The final aim of the project is to create a network of green areas with the participation of public and private social institutions, actively involved in the care, that provide places to meet, create new relationships and transform the urban architecture in a permeable barrier for butterflies.
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Papers by Francesca Martelli
Posters by Francesca Martelli