The Queen of Spain Fritillary at Minsmere RSPB Reserve

The Queen of Spain Fritillary at Minstnere RSPB Nature Reserve

by Charlotte Anderson (Assistant RSPB Warden-Minsmere)

Prior to 1995, only two accepted Suffolk records exist. Then, in August of that year, a singleton was identified on a warden's Buddleia davidii and another was sadly found, perfectly preserved, suspended in a pitfall trap. '95 being particularly good for migrants, we assumed this was a one-off episode and enjoyed the butterflies for what they were, not for what it might all mean. July 1996 saw another individual nectaring on buddleia and over the next six weeks, up to six were seen regularly on rhe same sheltered heathland area, their larval foodplant Viola arvensis nearby. This being well off the beaten track, the sire was temporarily opened up to allow for visitors. A pitfall trap again curiously produced a specimen. The plot thickened. The last confirmed sighting for char year was of two on 16 September. There were six sigh rings at Minsmere during 1997 between late June and mid September. These were more scattered with no reliable sites. Viola Ssp. was sometimes noted nearby. This latest excuse for a summer has only produced one record, back on the heath.

Breeding or not breeding, that is the question

The spate of records in 1996 tempted wardens to speculate that breeding was occurring on the reserve as Carlton Marshes was the only other eastern locality where they had been recorded. The butterflies were continuously noted over a period of 23 days with fresh specimens regularly coming on the scene. Why would migration from the continent concentrate so narrowly on this small stretch of coast? Of course, there was no tangible proof in 'evidence'. The combination of a suitable food plant and dates of occurrence were simply hard to dismiss. Eggs are laid on the plant, hatch in about a week and the caterpillar matures in a month. So the five week interval between the first July record and second in August tied in nicely with the theory of a second brood originating from one or more autumn brood adults as well as pupae can hibernate over winter. Could 1997 records be a mixture of surviving overwinterers, their offspring and migrants? One can only guess. Queen of Spain remains the only fritillary record ever for the reserve and we hope to renew its acquaintance in 1999, whether with true migrants or home-grown specimens as we, at Minsmere, would like to think.