Macedonian Grayling :: Pseudochazara cingovskii

Bad at Goodbyes :: Episode 067

On today’s show we learn about the Macedonian Grayling, a critically endangered butterfly native to the white marble mountains of North Macedonia in southeastern Europe. Its scientific name is Pseudochazara cingovskii and it was first described in 1973.

1. (00:05) Intro
2. (02:05) Species Information
3. (24:52) Citations
4. (26:43) Music
5. (33:28) Pledge

For more information about protecting species like the Macedonian Grayling from illegal trade please see the International Fund for Animal Welfare at https://www.ifaw.org/.

Research for today’s show was compiled from:

1. Apelblat, Mose. "How Legal Loopholes Make EU a Destination for Illegal Wildlife Trade." The Brussels Times, October 7, 2025 – https://www.brusselstimes.com/1781595/animal-welfare-how-legal-loopholes-make-eu-a-destination-for-illegal-wildlife-trade
2. Brown, J. 1976. "A Review of the Genus Pseudochazara de Lesse, 1951 (Lep., Satyridae) in Greece." Entomologist's Gazette 27: 85–90. – https://biodiversity.unitir.edu.al/Documenten/Brown_1976_Pseudochazara_tisiphone_amymone.pdf
3. Gullan, P. J., and P. S. Cranston. The Insects: An Outline of Entomology. 5th ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2014. – https://archive.org/details/TheInsectsAnOutlineOfEntomology_201902
4. Institute of Communication Studies. "Nature for Sale." YouTube video, 25:38. Posted by "Дома / Doma," May 7, 2024. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wNzxEW1w3w
5. International Fund for Animal Welfare. "Legal Loopholes Make EU a Prime Destination for Stolen Wildlife Trade." Press release, November 22, 2022. – https://www.ifaw.org/press-releases/legal-loopholes-eu-prime-destination-stolen-wildlife-trade
6. Middleton-Welling, J., Dapporto, L., García-Barros, E. et al. A new comprehensive trait database of European and Maghreb butterflies, Papilionoidea. Scientific Data 7, 351 (2020). – https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00697-7
7. Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity of the Republic of Macedonia. Skopje: Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, 2014. https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/mk/mk-nr-05-en.pdf
8. Takáts, Kornél, and Morten Mølgaard. "Partial mtCOI-sequences of Balkanic species of Pseudochazara (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) reveal three well-differentiated lineages." Entomologica romanica 19 (2014): 21–40. – https://entomologica-romanica.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/19_2014_2015/ER1920141504_Takats_et_Molgaard.pdf
9. van Swaay, C., Ellis, S. & Warren, M. 2025. Pseudochazara cingovskii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T160595A841785. – https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS.T160595A841785.en
10. Verovnik, Rudi & Micevski, Branko & Maes, Dirk & Wynhoff, Irma & Swaay, Chris & Warren, Martin. (2013). Conserving Europe's most endangered butterfly: The Macedonian Grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii). Journal of Insect Conservation. 17. – https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-013-9576-6
11. Verovnik R, Wiemers M (2016) Species delimitation in the Grayling genus Pseudochazara (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) supported by DNA barcodes. ZooKeys 600: 131-154. – https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.600.7798
12. Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudochazara_cingovskii

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A note on accuracy: I strive for it! These episodes are well-researched and built from scholarly sources, hoping to provide an informed and accurate portrait of these species. That said, I’m a musician! I am not an academic and have limited scientific background. I may get things wrong! If you are using this podcast for scholarship of any kind, please see the cited sources and double-check all information.