The salt marshes of the Venice Lagoon, a unique and fragile environment, represent an ecosystem of extraordinary importance, threatened by erosion and environmental changes. Giovanni Timossi, the entomologist in charge of monitoring the action site and its surroundings within the WaterLANDS project, also collaborated to make a series of video for our Instagram channel on lepidopterans as an indicator of the ecological status of salt marshes.
The videos provide a close look at remarkable species, living sentinels of the lagoon environment. These include Scithris lagunae, a small moth found almost exclusively in the lagoons of Venice and Grado. Its biology remains largely unknown, making every observation crucial for its conservation.
Another key species is Agdistis morini, a perfect example of adaptation: the moth feeds exclusively on Limonium, one of the most characteristic plants of the lagoon. Its presence is a sign of a well-preserved salt marsh with abundant vegetation.
Lastly, we present Malacosoma castrensis forma veneta, a unique ecotype known as “Bombice (ground lackey moth) of the salt marshes”, which has adapted to the lagoon’s saline conditions. Its moths, active as early as spring, feed exclusively on Limonium, making it a key bioindicator.
These Lepidoptera are valuable indicators of salt marsh health. Their presence, absence, and abundance reflect habitat quality and food resource availability, providing essential information for the management and conservation of these unique environments.
To learn more, read the article “Lepidoptera biodiversity of the salt marshes” on the Vital website.
Watch the Reels here:
Inhabitants of the salt marsh
Scythris lagunae: a mysetious insect
The Camouflage Moth
The Saltmarsh Moth
