Our nuraghi have given their name to a lepidopteran that lives in a relatively restricted area (Gennargentu, Sette Fratelli, and Limbara) and fortunately is not at risk of extinction: It is the “Satiro dei nuraghi” (Maniola nurag) “a small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 30-45 millimeters, brown and orange in color, with a dark spot (ocellus) near the front apex. The female is slightly larger and lighter than the male.
It is found above 400 meters in altitude. It often flies close to the ground, among the cistus bushes, in clearings of the woods, and near watercourses. The caterpillars feed on the grass Festuca morisiana, which is found only in Sardinia. It has one generation per year. Adults fly in late spring, from the end of May to September, depending on weather conditions.” (from Sardegna Foreste).
Along with the image of the small “maniola nurag” (farfalleitalia.it), we propose some nuraghi that rise in the mentioned mountainous territories: Serbissi di Osini (ph. Lucia Corda); Ruinas di Arzana (ph. Giovanni Sotgiu); Sa Fraigada di Sinnai (ph. Gianni Sirigu e Marco Cocco); Monti di Deu a Calangianus (ph. Romano Stangherlin); Agnu di Calangianus (ph. Francesca Cossu).
