The sageta petita (Gegenes pumilio) is a diurnal butterfly considered one of the rarest and most endangered species in Spain and Europe. It was recently added to the Red List of the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species.
Although this species is distributed across the eastern Mediterranean, it had only been recorded twice in Mallorca. On May 15th, Cristian Rodríguez, a staff member at MUCBO and an amateur entomologist, spotted it again in the Botanic Garden, specifically near the insect hotel area, where it was feeding on flowers.
This sighting, confirmed through collaboration with lepidopteran experts, highlights both the rarity of this butterfly in the area and the great significance of its presence in the Sóller Valley.
Butterflies like Gegenes pumilio are essential bioindicators, but they face threats such as deforestation, pesticide use, wildfires, and climate change. At MUCBO, we hope this species can recover and continue flying through our landscapes.
