Le praterie xerocalcicole della Toscana meridionale, habitat di rilevante interesse per la fauna a Ropaloceri

We studied the Lepidoptera Rhopalocera of calcareous grasslands of southern Tuscany, habitats of community interest in conservation priorities in accordance with Directive 92/43/EEC. Were examined six areas in the provinces of Livorno (Monte Calvi), Siena (Le Cornate and Monte Cetona) and Grosseto (Monte Calvo, Le Cornate, Monte Labbro and Monte Civitella) with significant extensions of grasslands (> 15 ha). The study showed that these grasslands are important areas for lepidotterofauna hosting 108 species of which 25 (23.1%) of conservation interest. In particular the Monte Calvo, Le Cornate, Monte Labbro, Monte Cetona and Monte Civitella are distinguished by 156 the presence of rich populations of “target species” Maculinea arion (Linné, 1758) and Melanargia arge (Sulzer, 1776) justifying their inclusion among the “Prime Butterfly Areas”. Even xerocalcicole grasslands of southern Tuscany as European ones are gradually reducing, and in few years could disappear. For their maintenance is suggested the application of management standards including: the recovery of extensive grazing and planning by calculating the “carrying capacity”; alternating grazing areas with annual rest areas; mowing the grass vegetation through haymaking diluted over time of limited surfaces; the reduction of herbaceous vegetation by means of controlled winter burns; the limitation of the development of shrubs through periodic cuts.