The Arctiinae (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) of Istanbul Belgrad Forest, Turkey 
Hamit Ayberk 
Abstract. Istanbul-Belgrad Forest mainly is in the form of a deciduous forest, composed of various tree species and tall 
shrubs. The study was conducted between the years of 2010 and 2011 in related area. The objectives of this study were to 
investigate the Arctiinae fauna of the area. As a result of the study; a total of 13 species belonging to 3 tribes of the subfamily 
Arctiinae are determined. 
Samenvatting. De Arctiinae (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) van Istanbul Belgrad Forest, Turkije 
Het Istanbul Belgrad Forest is een hoofdzakeiijk een loofbos, samengesteld uit verschillende boomsoorten en grote struiken. De 
studie werd uitgevoerd in 2010 en 2011 met als doel de Arctiinae fauna van dit gebied te inventariseren. In totaal werden 13 
soorten, behorende tot 3 tribi waargenomen. 
Résumé. Les Arctiinae (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) de la forêt d'lstanbul Belgrad, Turquie 
La forêt d'lstanbul Belgrad consiste surtout en arbres a feuillage caduque et en arbustes. L'étude a été conduite en 2010 et 
2011 et avait comme but d'inventorier la faune d'Arctiinae dans cette région. Au total, 13 espèces appartenant a 3 tribus ont 
été signalées. 
Key Words: Istanbul Belgrad Forest - Lepidoptera - Arctiinae fauna - Faunistics 
Ayberk H.: Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Entomology and Protection, Bahgeköy 34473, Istanbul- 
Turkey. hayberk@istanbul.edu.tr 
Introduction 
Belgrad Forest corresponding to 0.03% of total 
forested areas in Turkey covers an area of 5,444 ha. 
Elevation in the area ranges front 40-230 m. The climate 
of Belgrad Forest according to Thorthwaite classification 
system is humid, mesothermal oceanic with a moderate 
water deficit in summer. The soils are shallow to deep, 
gravely, loamy clay in texture, rich in organic matter with 
medium to good permeability rates. The area, 
geographically, is on the Thracian side of Istanbul and 
spreads over the part of the land encased by the 
Bosporus on one side and the Black sea coastline on the 
other. The forest mainly is in the form of a deciduous 
forest, composed of various tree species and tall shrubs 
(Figure 1). Dominant vegetation of the area includes 
Quercus frainetto, Q. cerris and Fagus orientalis tree 
species mixed with varying amounts of Acer campestre, 
A. trautvetteri, Alnus glutinosa, Carpinus betulus, 
Costanea sativa, Populus tremula, Sorbus torminalis and 
Ulmus campestris with a normal crown closure (Yaltirik 
1966, Kantarci 1980; Karaöz 1988). 
Figure 1. Istanbul Belgrad 
Forest, Turkey. 
The Lepidoptera is the second largest single group of 
similar organisms in the world (only the beetles, 
Coleoptera, have more species) comprising an estimated 
174,250 species in 126 families and 46 superfamilies 
(Mallet 2007, Capinera 2008). According to Kogak & 
Kemal (2009), 5,182 Lepidopteran species, belong to 76 
ISSN 0771-5277 
Phegea 41 (3) 01.ix.2013: 55 
