Belenois aurota (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae): assessing opportunities for winter survival at the northern extent of the species' migratory range in Turkey (Republic of Türkiye)

Known as a significant tropical migrant, the first confirmed observation of Belenois aurota for Turkey (Republic of Türkiye) occurred in 2016. In 2023, after a seven-year gap, the species returned with a highly dynamic population and continued to spread in Turkey during the summers and autumns of the subsequent years of 2024 and 2025. According to the few available references, this migrant species has not previously been known to appear in Turkey over three consecutive years. The recent frequency of observations of this migratory species has raised the inevitable question of whether a future resident population could establish in Turkey in the coming years due to climate change. The current study was conducted to model whether, by exposing immature stages to natural and controlled simulated winter conditions, overwintering success might be achievable in future.