Migration of Belenois aurota (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in Syria: implications for the caper industry?

We report on migration/dispersal in Syria of Belenois aurota, a tropical migrant pierid. The routes followed to the east of the Anti-Lebanon and Silsilat al-Jib??l as-Sāilīyah (Latakia) mountain ranges, indicate the use of previously undocumented migratory pathways into northwestern Syria with potential for further incursion into Mediterranean provinces of Türkiye. The hostplants in Syria are species of Capparis, a source of economic benefit to those foraging caper buds in northwestern governates of the country. However, we consider the threat to Capparis spp. posed by migrant B. aurota currently to be secondary to that of the proliferating Stenozygum coloratum, now a very common resident pentatomid (Hemiptera).