The Suffolk Argus
Rare
Butterflies
in Suffolk 1995 by RichardStewart
CamberwellBeauty (Nymphalisantiopa)
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March 1996
According to our president, Howard Mendel, it has been the best ever recorded year for rare butterflies in Suffolk. In the first year of the Millennium survey there were 5 records of Queen of Spain Fritillary (Argynnis lathonia) from 5 different tetrads. This compares with just one definite specimen since 1900. The five were, in order: Minsmere (David Fairhurst - warden) on 6th August; Holbrook on the Shotley peninsula (Mark Steer), August 12th; Bradfield Woods (Stephen Hunt warden) on August 21st; Westwood Marshes near Walberswick (Mark Curley and Shelia Davie from London) on 10th September; the final one, found in a pittrap at Minsmere's nonh easr corner could have been their a fortnight before its discovery on September 16th. This specimen was_mounted by Roger Kendrick and displayed some weeks ago at the British En. Soc. meeting in London, with full details of other sightings as above. All 5 were recorded in detail on the rare butterfly forms quickly devised by me, with many comments in panicular on the remarkable underside of the wing, described by Mark Curley as 'clear,
silverywhitepearls,largerand morenumerousthan on any otherFritillaryfound in the U.K' The Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa) has occasionally been recorded in Suffolk, the last being a single specimen in 1994 at Rickinghall inferior. This butterfly's 'migration'is often a question of whether an ®isted passage'hasoccurred as a consequence of its dose association with sightings from ports. L. Hugh Newman in 'The complete Britishbutterfliesin colour'(Pub. 1968 Ebuty press and Michael Joseph) notes: '
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Dark-green Fritillaries (Argynnis aglaja) and Marbled Whites (Melanargia galathea) were everywhere. The latter in panicular seemed to envelop every head of knapweed in dose company with several 6 spot Burnet moths. Chalkhill Blues (Lysandra cotidon) were more recent emergences and provided some excellent views and photographs. In addition to the richness of the butterflies, the suggestion that 40 different plant species can occupy one square metre of turf brought out the botanist in all of us.
Thanksmustgo to UpperThamesBranchwho kindlysetasidemuchsoughtafterplacesto allowus tojoin them on this unforgettableday.
BentleyWoods
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After a sound night's sleep and a memorable breakfast, we were now wondering what this new day might have in store for us. We were not to be disappointed. As we drew into the car park, first one then a second large Fritillary was seen. With Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) being unfamiliar to most of us, soning out both sexes of Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) and Silver-washed Friti!lary was to prove most interesting. But before we had really begun to examine our finds a helpful and enthusi3:5ticlocal lepidopterist was telling us to hold fire for just a few minutes because we were sure to see a Purple Emperor (Apatura iris). He had been watching and photographing a superb male nectaring on a tree wound for an hour or so before-hand. Sure enough, as the sun burst through again down came the Emperor. Absolutely magnificent. And that was not to be all. Just a few yards down the track from the car park we found another, this time on the ground. Everyone gathered for more excellent views before it soared up and away.
Now what about those Friti!laries. Fortunately, they were still being seen frequently and with the help of a field guide it was not long before we were identifying both sexes of the individual species as well as the differences between the rwo. White Admiral (Ladoga camilla) occasionally drifted by along with more Marbled Whites (Melanargia galathea). What a lovely day. White-letter Hairstreak (Strymonidia w-album) was however proving to be a little elusive but as can often happen, just as were beginning to pick them out our attention was diverted to something else. That most enigmatic of the Fritillaries, the Valezina form of the female 'Silverwashed'was drifting tantalisingly dose to our position. A visit that was all too short though most exciting. As the day wore on butterfly activity lessened and with a long journey ahead of us we decided to call it a day-but not quite! We had heard that a family of the scarce Montague's Harrier had taken up residence in the New Forest just about half-an-hour away. After a short wait we were treated to splendid flight and perched views of both the male and female. Such an unexpected event capped another wonderful day and a weekend that will stay in the memories of those present for a long time to come.
PurpleEmperor (Apaturairis)
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by Beryl] ohnson
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