Contribution to the knowledge of the butterflies and moths of the upper course of Neretva River, Nevesinjsko polje and the Morine plateau

In early June 2023, we studied the Lepidoptera fauna of the upper course of the Neretva River, the valley of the Zalomka River in Nevesinjsko Polje and the Morina plateau between the two. In total, we registered 237 species, 63 butterflies and 174 moths. We found 53 butterfly species in the area of the Upper Neretva River, 37 in Nevesinjsko polje and five on the Morina plateau, along with 156, 40 and 20 moth species, respectively. In this study, we increased the total number of registered Lepidoptera species for the area, from 251 found in the same region during Neretva Science Week 2022, to a total of 414 (93 butterflies and 321 moths). Eight species have the status of Near Threatened and one is categorised as Data Deficient according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Two species are listed as Vulnerable in the Red List of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and three species are listed on the Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. Our findings present a much-needed basic knowledge on Lepidoptera of the region, which is important for conservation activities.