Help for High Brown Fritillaries in UK

goosey · #1 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 07:42 AM

One of the last national strongholds for High brown Fritillary butterfly - Argynnis adippe, has been given a financial helping hand to preserve its presence in the area. £246,800 has been given to help with coppicing of hazel to open up some of the lime stone woodland around Morecambe Bay, on the North Lancashire/ South Cumbria border (UK). Grazing cattle were introduced a couple of years ago, this along with the opening up of woodland to let light to the floor will provide perfect conditions for these rare butterflies to breed.

I was at Arnside Knott last summer – a beautiful hot and sunny July day, but wasn’t lucky enough to see any. I have just done an image search in the gallery to see if there was a image I could add to this post, sadly there wasn’t.

Suzanne B · #2 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 09:23 AM

That's very good news Goosey.
Thanks for letting us know, I hadn't heard about it and its right on my doorstep!

I really hope it proves successful as it's really heartening to hear of specific help being given to these butterflies before it's too late.
I've just been reading about them now and it says they are widespread in Europe so I was wondering if you see them where you are? If not, hopefully next time you're over you might get to see one here.

goosey · #3 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzanne B

.
I've just been reading about them now and it says they are widespread in Europe so I was wondering if you see them where you are? If not, hopefully next time you're over you might get to see one here.

I haven't seen them here either, to be honest the only fritillaries I have seen here have been The Queen of Spain fritillary - Issoria lathonia, which was great to see, last summer in the Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen.
I hope to be in England in the summer, but can't guarantee it at the mo', if I am though, Arnside Knott will be on the list of places I would hope to visit again

.

ericrovve · #4 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 01:41 PM

I had this down as Mesoacidalia aglaja, but it could also be yours, Goosey Aryginnis adippe as the marking seem to fit. What do you think?

goosey · #5 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericrovve

I had this down as Mesoacidalia aglaja, but it could also be yours, Goosey Aryginnis adippe as the marking seem to fit. What do you think?

This is a toughie Eric, both look a good possibility to me

Apparantly the best way to tell the difference between The high brown fritillary - Argynnis adippe from the dark green fritillary-Argynnis aglaja, (also known as Mesoacidalia aglaja?) is by the dark brown spots on the outer edge of the underside of the hind wings. From this angle we can't be see if they are present or not.

Lovely image by the way

!

ericrovve · #6 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 02:54 PM

There another name for High Brown as well, which is very confusing - Fabricana or something.
I've about 4 shots of this same butterfly, but this is the only one to show even a suspicion of an underwing. You can just see it has white dots there, but so have both species. One Google entry mentions the different shape of the forewing, although I can't make out which one he was talking about.