naturally scottish - snh.org.uk · Butterflies naturally scottish n a turally sc ottish ... There...

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About the author:

Paul Kirkland is Butterfly Conservation’s Director forScotland, and has worked for the charity since 1994.Caterpillars, beetles and other insects first sparked hisinterest in the natural world. He has also helpedconserve amphibians and plants.

About other books in the series:

Bumblebees“This is a short readable account of bumblebee lives, with special reference to Scottish habitats.

The photographs are first-rate and the text is pleasantly written, with some interesting snippets. You can read it in half an hour, and it will probably leave you wanting more –

the mark of a successful introduction.”

British Wildlife

Price £4.95Scottish Natural Heritage. Visit our website on www.snh.org.uk

ISBN 1 85397 446 8A CIP record is held at the British Library.

There are 30 resident species of butterflies found inScotland, as well as three regular migrants. The colourfuladults may survive for just a few weeks but they certainlybrighten up our lives.

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TTERFLIES

Butterflies

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ButterfliesN A T U R A L L Y S C O T T I S H

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© Scottish Natural Heritage 2006

ISBN 1 85397 446 8 paperback

A CIP record is held at the British Library

W2.5K0406

Cover photograph:Marsh fritillary on bugle

Frontispiece:Magnified wing scales of the female Common blue

Back cover photograph:Peacock butterfly

AcknowledgementsAuthor: Paul Kirkland (Butterfly Conservation Scotland)Series editor: Lynne Farrell (SNH)Design and production: SNH Design and Publications

Photography: Jim Asher/Butterfly Conservation Scotland back cover top, 9, 17 bottom left; Alan P Barnes/NHPA 2 top; Laurie Campbell opposite 1, 10, 25 bottom; Laurie Campbell/SNH 13 top right, 15;David Cantrille 20 left; David Cayless/OSF 14; Lorne Gill/SNH 7, 11, 16, 17 bottom right, 19, 19inset, 21, 22, 28; Natural History Museum frontispiece, 27 bottom, 29; Glasgow City Council(Museums) 32 bottom right, 32 bottom right inset; Frank Greenaway/Natural History Museum 27top; Richard Revels 13 bottom; Robert Thompson contents; David Whitaker front cover, 2 bottom, 13top left, 17 top, 20 right, 23 top, 23 bottom, 24, 25 top, 30, 32 bottom left, 32 top left.

Illustrations: Clare Hewitt 6.Illustration of "The Zinnia Fairy" on page 3 from "Flower Fairies of the Alphabet" by Cicely Mary Barker © The Estate of Cicely Mary Barker, 1934, 1990. Reproduced with permission by Frederick Warne & Co., Ltd.

Scottish Natural HeritageDesign and PublicationsBattlebyRedgortonPerth PH1 3EWTel: 01738 458530Fax: 01738 458613E-mail: [email protected]

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by

Paul Kirkland

(Butterfly Conservation Scotland)

ButterfliesN A T U R A L L Y S C O T T I S H

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ForewordScotland is a great place for butterflies. Every time I

come north of the border in spring or summer I

appreciate how well blessed the area is with these

'flying flowers'.

Many species that are in rapid decline in England and

Wales, such as the Pearl-bordered fritillary and the

Small pearl-bordered fritillary appear to be thriving

north of the border. Scotland also supports the last

remaining UK populations of the Chequered skipper (it

died out suddenly in England in the 1970s), and has the

majority of colonies of several northern species such as

the Scotch argus, the Northern brown argus and the

Mountain ringlet. Scotland’s extensive and beautiful

landscapes play a crucial role in the survival of these

otherwise rare species.

I called them 'flying flowers' but the significance of

butterflies extends way beyond their dazzling

splendour. They are important because they are

indicators of a healthy environment: where they flourish,

nature is thriving. They are also especially sensitive to

climate change. Several species have spread rapidly

north in recent years, noticeably the Orange-tip and

Speckled wood, and it seems certain that climate

change is responsible.

This booklet introduces you to some of the 30 or so

species that occur in Scotland and describes the

habitats in which they live. Even here several species

are in urgent need of active conservation. Thanks to the

efforts of organisations like Scottish Natural Heritage

and Butterfly Conservation Scotland many habitats are

being protected and managed to enhance the survival

rate of butterflies and other wildlife.

Many visitors to Scotland come, as I do, because of the

splendid scenery, but I hope this booklet opens their

eyes to the joys of Scotland’s butterflies as well. Come

to think of it, this wealth of species might surprise the

locals, too!

Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH

Vice President of Butterfly Conservation

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ContentsIntroduction 1

What is special about butterflies? 3

Scottish butterflies 4

How they breed – the life-cycle 7

How they feed and providing food 8

Scotland’s special butterflies and where to find them 10

Open woodland 10

Species-rich grassland 15

Wetlands – damp meadows, moorlands and bogs 18

Coastal habitats, wild rivers and post-industrial sites 21

Threats 24

Conservation – what is being done and how you can help 26

Biodiversity Action Plan and Red Data Book 31

Finding out more about butterflies 33

Green-veined white Pieris napi resting on a bluebell

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VIIISmall tortoiseshell Aglais urticae, one of our commonest butterflies, here sitting on ragwort. It often survives the winters byseeking refuge in garden sheds

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I nt roduc t ion

1

For most of us, the word 'butterfly' conjures up a sunny,

happy, positive image of a beautiful, coloured insect

flapping lazily in the sunshine. We welcome these

vibrant 'flying flowers' into our increasingly wildlife-

friendly gardens.

Butterfly imagery is also often used to portray

childhood innocence, butterflies being thought of as

fragile, delicate things, easily harmed by handling and

at the mercy of the weather and predators.

“Here lies, now a prey to insulting neglect,

What once was a butterfly, gay in life’s beam:

Want only of wisdom denied her respect,

Want only of goodness denied her esteem”.

Robert Burns, 1794,

Monody on a Lady Famed for her Caprice (Epitaph)

On the other hand, two of our familiar 'garden'

butterflies, the Small tortoiseshell and Peacock,

somehow survive our cold, wet winter months as adults,

re-appearing in good numbers every spring. Even

more amazing is the fact that thousands of butterflies

migrate to our shores from the Continent every year

across seas and mountains, passing over hundreds of

miles of farmland.

One of the aims of this booklet is to try and dispel some

of the myths about our butterflies. We will see that

Scotland’s butterflies are even more fascinating than we

might imagine!

Fairy with butterfly wings from "Flower Fairies ofthe Alphabet" by Cicely Mary Barker

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Mot hs

• Most fly at night

• Antennae not clubbed

• Rest with wings flat

• Body of adult usually hairy

• Pupae often protected by silken cocoons

• Caterpillar can be hairy, spiny or hairless

Large heath Coenonympha tullia on cross-leaved heath

Garden tiger moth Arctia caja, one of our most striking moths

But t er f l ies

• Fly during the day

• Have clubbed antennae

• Rest with wings vertical

• Body of adult usually slightly hairy

• Pupae not normally encased in silken cocoons

• Caterpillar covered in spines, never hairy


creo

3

What is special about butterflies?Butterflies and moths both belong to the insect order

Lepidoptera, meaning 'scale-winged'. This refers to the

thousands of tiny scales that cover the wings.

In some languages the same word is used for both

butterflies and moths, and in others, moths are simply

called 'butterflies of the night'.

“You ask what is the use of butterflies?

I reply to adorn the world

and delight the eyes of men…”

John Ray, Historia Insectorum, 1710

The spectacular colours of butterfly wings have evolved

over millennia to protect them from predators and attract

mates, so their beauty is in reality a matter of survival. It

is the wing scales that produce the colours, either by their

pigmentation or by the way they refract light.

Camouflage colours are common, the undersides in

particular often mimicking vegetation. The Comma is

remarkable in having wings that resemble ragged leaves.

The eyespots of the Northern brown argus, Common

blue and Scotch argus are thought to have arisen in

order to deflect the attack of a predator away from the

head to a less crucial part of the body. In the wild, you

can often see symmetrical, beak-shaped damage to the

hind wings, the result of an unsuccessful attack by a bird.

The Peacock has a different sort of eyespot, a large one

on each wing that is flashed suddenly when the butterfly

is disturbed in an attempt to frighten off a predator.

Adult male and female Scottish butterflies generally look

rather similar, although most exhibit some small

differences. In two species however, the sexes are very

different, so much so that the common names only really

apply to the males. Only the male Orange-tip has the

conspicuous orange wing tips, while the female never

does, and as a result is much less frequently noticed.

The male Common blue has dazzling electric-blue wings,

whereas the female is normally brown with very few blue

scales. However, females with large amounts of blue

scales do occasionally occur, and these particularly

beautiful 'blue' females are reputed to be more common

in north and west Scotland.

There are some general differences between butterflies

and moths, but exceptions occur for all of these. For

example, burnet moths fly by day, some skipper

butterflies rest with wings flat, and some moths rest with

wings vertical. Occasionally the Purple hairstreak

butterfly has been caught in moth traps at night!


4

Vernacular name Scientific name Scottish Status Gaelic nameChequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Rare resident, confined to Lochaber and north Argyll An leumadair breac-bhallach

Large skipper Ochlodes venata Resident, in south Scotland

Dingy skipper Erynnis tages Rare resident, confined to north east An leumadair lachdunnand south west Scotland

Clouded yellow Colias croceus Rare migrant from the Continent

Large white Pieris brassicae Widespread resident Dearbadan-dè mòr geal

Small white Pieris rapae Widespread resident Dearbadan-dè beag geal

Green-veined white Pieris napi Widespread resident

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines Widespread resident

Green hairstreak Callophrys rubi Widespread resident An roinne stiallach uaine

Purple hairstreak Neozephyrus quercus Resident, confined to central and southwest Scotland An roinne stiallach chorcurach

Small copper Lycaena phlaeas Widespread resident An t-umhach beag

Small blue Cupido minimus Rare resident, confined to parts of north An gorman beagand east coast, and the Cairngorms

Northern brown argus Aricia artaxerxes Widespread resident in the south and east Argus donn tuathanach

Common blue Polyommatus icarus Widespread resident An gorman

Holly blue Celastrina argiolus Rare resident, only on the Solway and Fife coasts

Red admiral Vanessa atalanta Migrant from the Continent

Painted lady Vanessa cardui Migrant from the Continent and North Africa

Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Widespread resident

Camberwell beauty Nymphalis antiopa Rare migrant

Peacock Inachis io Widespread resident

S cot t i sh but ter f l iesScotland has 30 'resident' butterflies, species with long-established colonies that can be seen every year. In addition, three

regular migrants from the Continent - Red admiral, Painted lady and Clouded yellow, appear in varying numbers every

year, but cannot survive the winter, so do not establish colonies. The Camberwell beauty is a much rarer migrant from

northern Europe.


The Northern brown argus has had a very confusing

time, being variously called the 'Brown whitespot', the

'Brown argus blue', the 'Scotch brown blue' and the

'Scotch whitespot'! 'Argus' was the name of the

mythical Greek monster reputed to have a hundred

eyes, and refers to the numerous eyespots on the wings.

The Gaelic for butterfly is Dearbadan-dè, while for

caterpillar it is Ailseag, Bratag, Bratag a' chàil or

Cnuimh-chàil. The Doric (NE Scotland) for butterfly is

Butterflee, Buttery or Butterie, which is also the name

for a flat morning-roll. The Scottish name for chrysalis is

Tammy-nid-nod, or Tammie-noddie-heid.

5

Vernacular name Scientific name Scottish status Gaelic nameComma Polygonia c-album Resident, recently re-colonised

Small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene Widespread resident Dearbadan-dè beag na h-oirean neamhnaid

Pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne Widespread resident Dearbadan-dè na h-oirean neamhnaid

Dark green fritillary Argynnis aglaja Widespread resident Dearbadan-dè dòrch-uaine

Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia Resident, confined to Argyll Dearbadan-dè nam boglach

Speckled wood Pararge aegeria Resident, north and west Scotland

Wall Lasiommata megera Resident, southern Scotland An donnag bhallach

Mountain ringlet Erebia epiphron Resident, central Scotland, above 450m Faineag a’ mhonaidh

Scotch argus Erebia aethiops Widespread resident Argus albannach

Grayling Hipparchia semele Resident, mostly around the coast An glaisean

Meadow brown Maniola jurtina Widespread resident An t-ailean donn

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Resident, south and east Scotland Am faineag

Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus Widespread resident Dealbhan beag an fhraoich

Large heath Coenonympha tullia Widespread resident Dealbhan mòr an fhraoich

The names of but t er f l ies

The common names given to butterflies have changed

over time and evolved into the accepted ones that are

now in use. For example the Small copper was first

called the 'Small golden black-spotted meadow

butterfly' in 1699, thankfully, by 1766, this had been

simplified to the 'Copper'. It later became the Small

copper after the discovery of a larger and closely-

related butterfly (subsequently known as the

Large copper).

The Orange-tip started out as the 'Common white

marbled butterfly' but, while the male soon gained its

familiar and very apt name of Orange-tip, the female

(which does not have orange-wing tips) was called for

many years 'Our Lady of the woods'.


6

The adults emerge in late April and

May. The striking colours of the male

warns birds that it is distasteful

The caterpillars feed on the developing

seed pods until fully-grown in July, when

they leave the foodplant to find taller

vegetation in which to pupate

The Orange-tip spends the

winters as a pupa, attached

by a silken thread to the

vegetation. The pupa can

be either green or brown

The life-cycle of the Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines

The eggs laid on lady’s smock

are white at first but soon turn

bright orange, hatching after a

couple of weeks


7

H ow t hey breed – t he l i f e - cyc le

Most Scottish butterflies only live for a few days, or

perhaps three or four weeks at the most. During this

time they need to mate, avoid predators, shelter from

poor weather and find good nectar sources and places

to bask. In addition, the females must find somewhere

to lay their eggs. The distance the butterflies need to

fly to achieve all these things varies greatly between

species. Some will cover many kilometres during their

brief lives, others may just fly a few hundred metres.

So, despite appearances, butterfly flight is anything but

aimless meandering.

For many species, the place where the female lays her

eggs is one of the most crucial stages in their life-cycle.

For example, the Pearl-bordered fritillary will only lay

her eggs in 'hot spots' which also have abundant

violets, the caterpillar foodplant, while the Northern

brown argus and Chequered skipper select high

quality, protein-rich foodplants for egg-laying. The

Orange-tip and Small blue seek out plants that have no

other eggs on them in order to avoid competition.

Eggs of the Large white on a cabbage leaf

Most species lay between many tens and a few

hundred eggs. However, this is their maximum potential

output, as poor nutrition, bad weather or the attentions

of predators can all seriously reduce the lifespan of

females and thus the actual number of eggs laid.

Although the size of a pin head, the eggs of the

Northern brown argus and Small blue are so easy to

find on their respective foodplants (if you know

where to look), that they are often used in surveys

and monitoring.


8

The caterpillars of the three familiar 'garden' butterflies,

the Peacock, Small tortoiseshell and Red admiral, all

feed solely on nettles. The caterpillars of the Comma,

which has recently recolonised southern Scotland from

England, can also feed on nettles, but prefer hop when

it is available. The caterpillars of the Small blue and

the Northern brown argus also have just one species of

foodplant, kidney vetch and common rock-rose

respectively, and their distribution is closely tied to the

occurrence of these relatively scarce plants.

However, the caterpillars of most Scottish butterflies

feed on a range of plants, some of which are very

widespread. The Green hairstreak probably feeds on

more plant species than any other, but strangely this

doesn’t make it our commonest butterfly. Moreover the

Marsh fritillary and Chequered skipper both feed on

two of the commonest plants in Scotland (devil’s-bit

scabious and purple moor-grass respectively), and yet

both species are very rare!

There are just two species that can sometimes be pests

in gardens and allotments. Often called 'Cabbage

whites', the caterpillars of the Small white and Large

white can rapidly devastate a good crop of brassicas,

such as broccoli, cabbage and sprouts.

Mustard oils give cabbages their particular smell, and

are used as a chemical defence against herbivores.

But Large and Small whites have taken advantage of

these defences, not only using mustard oils to find

cabbages on which to lay their eggs, but also

incorporating them into their bodies. This makes both

the caterpillars and the adults distasteful to birds, which

quickly learn to avoid them.

The caterpillars of the Orange-tip and Small blue are

highly cannibalistic when very young, while the

caterpillars of the Green hairstreak will apparently

attack and eat each other throughout their lives. The

caterpillars of other Scottish butterflies are not known to

be cannibals.

H ow t hey feed andprov id ing food


9

Many parasitic wasps specialise in attacking

caterpillars. Adult wasps lay their eggs inside living

caterpillars, which then hatch, the grubs developing

initially without killing their host. Eventually the grubs

burst out of the unfortunate caterpillar, which then dies.

There are even wasp 'hyper-parasites' that lay their

eggs inside the parasitic wasp grubs that feed inside

the host caterpillar – so some caterpillars end up

supporting a whole food web themselves. These wasps

are sometimes rarer than the butterflies they parasitise,

so are worthy of conserving in their own right.

The importance of nectar is a matter of some debate

amongst butterfly ecologists. While some butterflies

spend a large proportion of their brief lives nectaring,

others survive with very little in the way of nectar

sources. Therefore nectar seems essential for some

species’ survival, yet others can do without it.

Butterflies are a very important part of the 'food web'.

Adult butterflies have many predators, especially birds,

but also dragonflies, lizards and spiders. Even bats will

take roosting butterflies. Caterpillars also form a crucial

food source for many birds, especially their young. A

high proportion also fall prey to beetles, ants, small

mammals and pathogens.

Peacock caterpillars feeding on nettle


10

O pen woodlandWoodlands can support many species of butterfly. The

richest woodlands are those with a varied structure – a

combination of tall, mature trees, sunny flower-rich

glades, areas of smaller shrubs and regrowth, wet

patches and burns. Larger woods, which have been

providing suitable conditions for many years, and those

dominated by native trees, usually support more

species than small, young, non-native woods.

Sunny rides and glades are particularly important for

many butterflies as they provide warm, sheltered

conditions for flight and breeding, a variety of nectar

sources for adults and also foodplants for caterpillars.

In the past, when our woodlands were actively

managed for a variety of purposes such as timber,

game or grazing, this created a varied structure which

benefited many woodland species including butterflies.

In recent times, a combination of the loss of traditional

management and the planting of dense conifer stands,

has often resulted in more shady woods. Many

woodland butterflies have declined as a result. Some

species such as the Chequered skipper and Pearl-

bordered fritillary cannot survive in shady woods.

S cot land’s spec ia l bu t ter f l iesand where to f ind t hem

Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon


111111Glasdrum, NNR Argyll – a typical habitat for both Chequered skipper and Pearl-bordered fritillary. There are small open glades inthe woodland, on sheltered, southeast-facing facing slopes


12

only digest the leaves if its body temperature is around

30 degrees centigrade. To become this warm, it finds

a place to sunbathe. The ground must be warm and

dry – leaf litter provides the ideal sunbed.

So Pearl-bordered fritillaries are almost always found

on sheltered, south-facing slopes, usually in open,

grazed woodland, or along wide, sunny woodland

rides. Plenty of violets are essential.

Ot her spec ies f ound in

woodland

Two other butterflies associated with woodland are the

Speckled wood and Purple hairstreak. Both can occur

in shadier woodland than other species but, even so,

they seek out the sunnier parts. Thus the Purple

hairstreak lives high up in the canopy of oak woodland,

feeding on the honeydew produced

by aphids, while male Speckled woods fight

for possession of scattered sunlit glades on the

woodland floor.

Cheq uer ed sk ipper

This is a very rare butterfly in the UK, now only found in

Scotland. As it is fast-flying and rather small it is often

difficult to see. The adults are more easily observed

whilst drinking nectar from bugle, bluebell and marsh

thistles. They spend a great deal of time nectaring, and

the presence near breeding sites of nectar-producing

plants growing in the sunshine is important.

The caterpillars feed on purple moor-grass growing in

tussocks in sunny, sheltered, damp sites. They live for

much of the time in a protective tube made by rolling a

grass blade and fastening it together with silk.

The Chequered skipper is now only found in parts of

Lochaber near Fort William and northern Argyll, where

there are about a dozen strong, large colonies and

many smaller colonies.

Pear l -bor der ed f r i t i l lar y

This butterfly is even more dependent on warm, sunny

sites than the Chequered skipper. The butterfly

overwinters as a caterpillar, which emerges in the early

spring and begins to feed on violet leaves. But it can


13

Pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne Speckled wood Parage aegeria

Female (left) and male (right) Purple hairstreak Neozeophyrus quercus


14Meadow browns Maniola jurtina feeding in a flower-rich grassland


15

Natural grasslands consist of a wide variety of native

grasses and herbs and have developed over hundreds

of years. They are beautiful when in flower and can

support many thousands of insects and other

invertebrates. They are called 'species-rich' because

they have such a wide variety of plants and animals.

Such grasslands are now uncommon, although

Scotland does still have some excellent examples.

These ancient grasslands cannot easily be re-created.

Most of them survive where it is physically impossible or

economically impractical to 'improve' them. They occur

often as small patches in very wet, rocky or relatively

inaccessible areas and are rarer in the lowlands.

The butterflies and other species associated with

species-rich grassland are therefore also restricted

and uncommon.

S pec ies - r i c h grass land

Small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene

Smal l pear l -bor der ed f r i t i l lar y

This species is a close cousin of the Pearl-bordered

fritillary but it is found in a wider range of habitats. It

can breed in warm, dry, open woodlands, but it can

also thrive on a variety of species-rich grasslands,

including much wetter sites. As a result, it is far more

widespread than the Pearl-bordered fritillary. The

caterpillars can feed on marsh or dog violets, whilst

thistles are the favourite nectar plants of the adults.

The future of the Small pearl-bordered fritillary seems

reasonably secure in Scotland provided its damp

habitats are not drained, its grassland areas are not

ploughed up and its woodland sites remain open. It is

a very different picture in other parts of the UK

however, as it is now a very rare butterfly over most of

southern England.

It appears to be a poor coloniser, as, surprisingly it

occurs only on a few Scottish islands and has never

been recorded on the Isle of Man or in Ireland.


16

N or t hern brown argus

The Northern brown argus has scattered colonies

throughout eastern and southern Scotland, although it is

not plentiful anywhere. Many small, previously -

overlooked colonies have been discovered in recent

years by surveys of species-rich grassland known to

support the caterpillar’s sole foodplant, common

rockrose.

This butterfly species is the only one in the world to be

first described from a Scottish specimen, probably taken

from Arthur’s Seat in 1793. Sadly that colony

no longer exists and, although collecting has been

blamed for its disappearance around 1870, habitat

loss may have been the main reason for its demise:

“I have not diminished their numbers, having always a

wholesome dread of exterminating species; but I believe a

dealer has, and a host of small boys who come out of

Edinburgh, with orange-coloured nets, and bottle them up

wholesale, five or six together, alive, in the same receptacle,

generally a match-box, along with Blues and anything else

they can find.

In addition to this, Government has agreed to construct a

carriage-road between Edinburgh and Duddingston, much to

my disgust, as it is to come along the line of the present

footpath, and will destroy all the best localities…”

Letter from R.F. Logan to H.T. Stainton, 1857.

Mount ain r ing le t

This is our only montane butterfly, found mainly

between 350 and 700 metres. Little is known about its

ecology, but there is evidence that it favours areas of

species-rich grassland within the huge expanses of

more acid, species-poor grassland in the central Scottish

Highlands.

The caterpillars are thought to feed only at night, and

the adults only fly in sunshine, so it is difficult to study.

We need to understand more about its requirements

because, if climate change predictions come true and

temperatures rise, this butterfly could be forced

higher up the hills and eventually may have nowhere

left to exist.

The Breadalbane hills are a stronghold for theMountain Ringet, which seems to prefer sunny, species-rich montane grassland


17

Mountain ringlet Erebia epiphron on wild thyme

Small copper Lycaena phlaeas on ragwartNorthern brown argus Aricia artaxerxes


18

Marsh fritillary numbers fluctuate widely from year to

year, partly due to the weather and the growth of the

scabious, but also due to a parasitic wasp that attacks

the caterpillars. This wasp can develop very fast, so in

a good year it can fit in two or three generations to the

single generation of caterpillars and, as dozens of

wasps can emerge from each caterpillar, colonies can

be severely depleted. However, once the size of the

butterfly colony falls below a certain level, the wasp

can become locally extinct, and this allows the Marsh

fritillary colony to increase again. This complex and

dynamic system can only persist where sufficiently large

expanses of scabious-rich grassland remain.

Larg e heat h

The Large heath is our only true peatland specialist,

equally at home on the blanket bogs of north and west

Scotland, as on the few remaining raised bogs in the

east and south of the country. The caterpillars feed on

cotton grass and, not surprisingly, can withstand short

spells under water!

Wetlands – damp meadows, moor land and bogs

Because of Scotland’s oceanic climate, damp

meadows, moorlands and bogs form a large

proportion of our good butterfly habitats. These

habitats are mainly found in the west.

Marsh f r i t i l lar y

One of Europe’s most threatened butterflies, the Marsh

fritillary, is also one the most attractive and intriguing.

The caterpillar’s foodplant, devil’s-bit scabious, is one of

Scotland’s commonest plants, occurring in a wide

variety of damp habitats, but its distribution clearly

does not determine that of the Marsh fritillary, which is

now found only in parts of Argyll.

The caterpillars are unusual amongst Scottish butterflies

in that they live communally in webs they spin from silk.

They need large quantities of scabious and so are only

found where the plant is abundant – in damp

grassland, damp heathland, moorland and on the

edges of peat bogs. The caterpillars sunbathe using

their silk web as a sunbed.


19Prime habitat for the Marsh fritillary in Argyll

A Marsh fritillary larval web


20Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia perched on a sedge Large heath resting on heather


21

To our eyes there is very little in common between

coastal cliffs and grasslands, wild rivers and post-

industrial or 'brownfield' sites. But to some butterfly

species they all possess just the right essentials for their

survival, i.e. sunny, open habitats, plenty of bare

ground and caterpillar foodplants. Three Scottish

species are associated with such sites, the Small blue,

Dingy skipper and Grayling, which require, respectively,

kidney vetch, bird’s-foot trefoil and fine-leaved grasses.

Coastal and riverine colonies benefit from the natural

dynamics of periodic soil disturbance, which maintain

areas of bare ground, providing the females of the three

species with warm micro-climates for egg-laying.

C oas ta l habi ta ts , wi ld r iversand pos t - indus t r ia l s i tes

River shingle with birch scrub at Glen Feshie


Bird’s-foot trefoil on Seaton Cliffs near Arbroath

On post-industrial sites the soils are often very poorly

developed and this can severely limit plant growth. Soil

nutrients can be very low, or the soils compacted and

dry. Sometimes the soils are toxic to plants. This means

that there is often plenty of bare ground, and the taller

vegetation, which would swamp low-growing herbs and

fine-leaved grasses, is kept in check.

Unfortunately, the colonies of these butterflies on post-

industrial sites are disappearing fast as such land is often

reclaimed for other uses. Sometimes the contaminated

soils that created the bare ground are removed or

treated and turned into sanitised 'greenspace'.

Although it can be claimed that these areas are highly

artificial, they are vital habitats for dwindling species of

a wide variety of wildlife. The last colonies of the Small

blue in the Borders were all on abandoned railway lines

and, when these became too shady, the butterfly

became extinct in the whole of southern Scotland.


2323

Mating Small blues Cupido minimus perched on kidney vetch

Dingy skipper Erynnis tages


24

Habi t at loss

The best places for butterflies are those with a variety

of extensive natural habitats. Many butterflies fare

better where there is a mosaic of habitats, of which the

Chequered skipper is a good example. Most of the

countryside used to have such areas, before intensive

agriculture and forestry created uniformity replacing

diverse grasslands, scrub and woodlands with

monocultures of either ryegrass or spruce. Fortunately

there has been much progress made by agriculture and

forestry departments in recent years to protect surviving

species-rich habitat and provide encouragement for

sensitive management.

I so lat ion

Sadly, for many species of butterfly, the remnants of

good quality habitat are often too small and isolated to

support colonies in the long term. Thus, as well as

protecting these patches and managing them as

sympathetically as possible, we must also make them

larger and less isolated, by trying to create 'stepping

stones' and 'wildlife corridors' between them. Many

species will not cross areas of unsuitable habitat such

as arable farmland and conifer plantations. Increasing

the diversity of these habitats could dramatically help

butterflies and other wildlife move about and survive in

the countryside.

T hreats

Orange-tip on bugle. This species has spread inScotland over the last 20 years


25

Cl imat e c hang e

Another threat facing Scotland’s butterflies is one that

seems almost overwhelming, and is indeed a global

problem. Some species are able to take advantage of

the warmer weather of recent years and have

expanded their range, but others will come under

increasing stress as their habitats become hotter and

possibly drier too. Removing barriers to dispersal will

allow species to move more freely so that they may be

able to track changes in climate by changing their

distribution.

As insects that so obviously enjoy the sun and warm

temperatures, you might think that 'global warming'

must be a good thing for butterflies. Certainly the run

of recent warm years we have experienced in Britain

has allowed several species to expand their Scottish

range northwards, including the Orange-tip, Peacock,

Ringlet and Comma.

However, there is evidence that other species are

suffering. Some lose out as their habitats become too

dry and caterpillar foodplants shrivel, while others will

simply find it too warm or sunny, and will be forced

higher into the hills to seek cooler habitats. Distinctively

Scottish species such as Mountain ringlet, Scotch argus,

Northern brown argus and Large heath could all suffer

in years to come.

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus. In the last ten years thisspecies has spread rapidly northwards

Scotch argus Erebia aethiops. Still abundant in westernScotland, but many colonies have been lost in the Borders


26

C onser vat ion – what i s be ingdone and how you can he lp

Ge tt ing invol ved

There are many excellent conservation projects

happening throughout Scotland that are benefiting

butterflies and their habitats. Organisations such as

Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust,

the Forestry Commission and SNH are all working to

conserve Scotland’s wildlife. Large parts of the country

are still under-recorded, so efforts are being

concentrated on finding out more about butterfly

distribution and trends.

Specific ways to become involved include helping with

surveys of particular species, monitoring, and

managing nature reserves. Conserving butterflies

probably helps to conserve other species, especially

other sun-loving insects, such as hoverflies, dragonflies,

solitary wasps and bees.

Gar deners

In your garden you can help by growing a selection of

nectar-bearing plants in sunny, sheltered places, to

provide nectar from early spring to early autumn.

Good nectar plants include:

Spr ing Summer/Autumn Aubretia Buddleia

Bluebell Clover

Bugle Ice plant

Lady’s smock Knapweed

Forget-me-not Lavender

Honesty Marjoram

Pansy Michaelmas daisy

Violet Mint

Primrose Red valerian

Sweet rocket Scabious

Wallflower Thyme


27

Avoid using peat (which destroys butterfly habitats) and

insecticides. Grow caterpillar food plants such as

lady’s smock (also known as cuckoo flower) for

Orange-tip, and bird’s-foot trefoil for Common blue.

However, improving gardens will only really help the

more common and mobile species. For our rarer

species to survive we must conserve large areas of

natural and semi-natural habitat – meadows,

woodlands, heaths and wetlands. Supporting

Scotland’s voluntary conservation bodies in this task is

an excellent way of helping to ensure our special

butterflies have a future.

Landowners

Farmers and crofters are increasingly able to help

butterfly populations in the countryside through the

availability of European and government funding.

These grants can be used to support traditional

agricultural methods, which are often beneficial, or for

the creation of wildlife friendly margins using native

wildflowers and grasses.

Foresters can also obtain grant-aid to help improve

conditions for butterflies on their land. This can be

through encouraging natural regeneration of native

trees, by opening up shady woodland through thinning

and clearing glades, or by carefully controlling the

amount of grazing.

Close-up of Small tortoiseshell's head and tongue

Small tortoiseshell nectaring on Ice plant Sedum spectabile


creo

28Surveying wet grassland areas rich in scabious for the Marsh fritillary

V is i t ing natur e r eser ves

There are many reserves in Scotland which are

excellent places to see butterflies. The first Butterfly

Conservation Scotland reserve at Allt Mhuic, on the

shores of Loch Arkaig near Spean Bridge, was opened

in 2003. It is managed in partnership with Forestry

Commission Scotland and Forest Research. The best

time to visit is from mid-May until the end of June.

Other superb sites include Mabie Forest near Dumfries,

Glasdrum National Nature Reserve north of Oban,

Argyll, and Ben Lawers, near Killin, National Trust for

Scotland. On the east coast, the Scottish Wildlife

Trust’s nature reserve at Seaton Cliffs north of

Arbroath, has a cliff walk with superb views where you

may see both native and migrant butterflies.


29Look closely and see the two butterflies feeding on the rich nectar provided by the herbaceous plants


30Chequered skipper on bluebell


31

B iodivers i ty Ac t ion P lan and Red Data Book

The UK Biodivers i ty Act ion

Plan (UK BAP)

At the Earth Summit on Sustainable Development in

1992, over 150 Governments including the UK

Government signed up to the UN Convention on

Biological Diversity.

In response, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan was

published in 1994 and identifies the most important

species for conservation in the UK. It is divided into

'priority' species and 'species of conservation concern'.

Action Plans for priority species have been prepared,

including eleven butterflies, four of which occur in

Scotland. These are the Northern brown argus,

Chequered skipper, Marsh fritillary and

Pearl-bordered fritillary.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan process has come

to be an important way in which activity to conserve

biodiversity is co-ordinated and undertaken across

the UK.

Red Dat a Book

A Red Data Book of European Butterflies was published

in 1999. This showed that many European butterflies

were under serious threat, primarily from rapidly

changing land use and the intensification of agriculture

and forestry. Abandonment of agricultural land,

however, is the biggest threat in some countries.

Scottish species threatened across Europe are the

Marsh fritillary and Large heath. Interestingly, the

Scotch argus nearly qualified for the Red List owing

to declines in many European countries, and it is

very likely that Scotland’s large population is of

European importance.


The but t er f l y in Scot t i sh ar t

The Celtic integration of mankind and nature was most

apparent in Scottish art at the turn of the last century in

the work of the members of an art movement established

in Glasgow called the Glasgow Style.

The use of natural, and in particular organic flower

forms, was one of their characteristics. Butterflies,

dragonflies and other insects were often used in stylised

forms particularly on fabrics and jewellery.

Art Nouveau cabinet with butterfly motifs designedby Ernest Archibald Taylor (1874–1951),Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow

Ernest Archibald Taylor, was a follower of the Glasgow

Style. Born in Greenock, he worked in a variety of

different media achieving a successful balance between

naturalism and stylisation. Between 1900 and 1910 as

well as painting, he worked for the Glasgow

cabinetmakers Wylie and Lochead. He used stylised

butterfly motifs to great effect in the cabinet pictured

below. The butterfly motif, the repeating flower and the

heart shapes - which appear in the handles and glass of

the cabinet are all part of Taylor's design vocabulary.

Common blue

Comma Clos

e-u

p of stylised butterfly motif

48523_Butterflies_Text 11/4/06 9:16 am Page 32

33

F inding out more aboutbut ter f l ies

Conservation and gardening

Baines, C. 1984. How to make a wildlife garden. Elm

Books, London.

Steel, J. 2003. Butterfly Gardening. Webbs Barn

Designs, Oxfordshire.

Van Swaay, C. and Warren, M.S. 1999. Red Data

Book of European Butterflies (Rhopalocera). Council of

Europe Publishing, Strasbourg (Nature and

Environment Series No 99).

Warren, M.S. and Fuller, R.J. 1993. Woodland rides

and glades – their management for wildlife (second

edition). JNCC, Peterborough.

Ecology and distribution

Asher, J. et al. 2001. The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies

in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.

Dennis, R.L.H. (ed.) 1992. The Ecology of Butterflies in

Britain. Oxford University Press.

Pullin, A.S. (ed.) 1995. Ecology and Conservation of

Butterflies. Chapman and Hall, London.

Identification

Chinery, M. 1989. Butterflies and Day-flying Moths of

Great Britain and Europe. Collins.

Lewington, R. 2003. Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of

Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing,

Hampshire.

Tolman, T. and Lewington, R. 1997. Butterflies of Britain

and Europe. HarperCollins, London.

Tomlinson, D. and Still, R. 2002. Britain’s Butterflies.

Wild Guides, Hampshire.

Useful addresses

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

Balallan House, 24 Allan Park, Stirling FK8 2QG

0870 7706151

e-mail: [email protected]

www.butterfly-conservation.org

Kindrogan Field Centre

Enochdu, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 7PG

01250 870150

e-mail: [email protected]

www.field-studies-council.org/kindrogan


343434

Amphibians & ReptilesAlthough there are only six amphibians and three reptilesnative to Scotland, these delightful animals have been partof our culture for a long time. They feature on Pictish stonesand in a play – 'The Puddock and the Princess'.John BuckleyISBN 1 85397 401 3 pbk 40pp £4.95

Bumblebees Did you know that Bummiebee, Droner and Foggie-toddlerare all Scottish names for the bumblebee? Find out whatthese names mean and why bumblebees are so specialinside this beautifully illustrated booklet. Also discover howyou can help the bumblebee by planting appropriateflowers for their continued survival.Murdo MacdonaldISBN 1 85397 364 5 pbk 40pp £4.95

Burnet MothsUnlike many other species of moth, burnet moths fly by day.They can be easily recognised by their beautiful, glossyblack wings with crimson spots. Their striking colouring is avery real warning to predators.Mark YoungISBN 1 85397 209 6 pbk 24pp £3.00

CorncrakesSecretive, skulking, rasping, loud, tuneless, scarce . . . allthese words have been used to describe the corncrake. Butonce you could have added plentiful and widespread to thelist. Now only a few birds visit Scotland each year. Thisbooklet brings you the latest information on the corncrakeand reveals this elusive and noisy bird in its grassy home.Helen Riley and Rhys GreenaISBN 1 85397 049 2 pbk 40pp £3.95

FungiFungi belong to one of the most varied, useful and ancientkingdoms in the natural world. Scotland may have almost2000 larger species with some of the most interesting foundin our woodlands and grasslands. This booklet provides anintroduction to their life-cycles, habitats and conservation.Discover the fascinating forms of earthstars, truffles andwaxcaps.Roy Watling MBE and Stephen WardISBN 1 85397 341 6 pbk 40pp £4.95

LichensThere are more than 1700 species of lichen occuringthroughout the British Isles, and many grow in Scotlandwhere the air is purer. Several different species may befound on a single rock or tree, resulting in lichenologistsspending hours in one spot!Oliver GilbertISBN 1 85397 373 4 pbk 52pp £4.95

Mosses & LiverwortsThere are almost 1,000 species of moss and liverwortgrowing in Scotland, representing more than 60% of theEuropean bryophyte flora. Although they are smallplants, they are certainly important ecologically and arealso very beautiful.Gordon RotheroISBN 1 85397 446 3 pbk 52pp £4.95

Red KitesThis graceful and distinctive bird was absent fromScotland’s skies for more than a century. Now with thehelp of a successful programme of reintroduction, its russet plumage and forked tail can once again be seen in Scotland.David Minns and Doug GilbertISBN 1 85397 210 X pbk 24pp £3.95

Red SquirrelsThe red squirrel is one Scotland’s most endearingmammals. This booklet provides an insight into theirecology and some of the problems facing red squirrels inScotland today.Peter Lurz & Mairi CooperISBN 1 85397 298 4 pbk 20pp £3.00

River RunnersScotland’s clean, cascading rivers contain a fascinatingarray of species. The Atlantic salmon is the best known ofour riverine species but others, such as lampreys andfreshwater pearl mussels, are frequently overlooked butno less captivating. This booklet aims to illuminate aspectsof their intriguing and largely unseen life-cycles, habitatsand conservation measures.Iain Sime ISBN 1 85397 353 X pbk 44pp £4.95

Sea EaglesA well-organised reintroduction programme has broughtthe sea eagle back to Scotland. This colourful booklettells a wonderful story, which is illustrated by some of thefinest natural history photographers in Europe.John Love ISBN 1 85397 461 7 pbk 48pp £4.95

Also in the Naturally Scottish series... If you have enjoyed Butterflies why not find out more about Scotland's wildlife in our Naturally Scottish series. The clear and informative text is illustrated with exceptionalphotographs, showing the species in their native habitats and illustrating their relationships with man. They also provide information on conservation and the law.


35

Title Price Quantity

Amphibians & Reptiles £4.95

Bumblebees £4.95

Burnet Moths £3.00

Butterflies £4.95

Corncrakes £3.95

Fungi £4.95

Lichens £4.95

Mosses & Liverworts £4.95

Red Kites £3.95

Red Squirrels £3.00

River Runners £4.95

Sea Eagles £4.95

Postage and packing: free of charge in the UK, a standard charge of £2.95 will be applied to all orders from the European Union. Elsewhere a standard charge of £5.50 will be applied for postage.

TOTAL

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Butterfliesn a t u r a l l y s c o t t i s h

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About the author:

Paul Kirkland is Butterfly Conservation’s Director forScotland, and has worked for the charity since 1994.Caterpillars, beetles and other insects first sparked hisinterest in the natural world. He has also helpedconserve amphibians and plants.

About other books in the series:

Bumblebees“This is a short readable account of bumblebee lives, with special reference to Scottish habitats.

The photographs are first-rate and the text is pleasantly written, with some interesting snippets. You can read it in half an hour, and it will probably leave you wanting more –

the mark of a successful introduction.”

British Wildlife

Price £4.95Scottish Natural Heritage. Visit our website on www.snh.org.uk

ISBN 1 85397 446 8A CIP record is held at the British Library.

There are 30 resident species of butterflies found inScotland, as well as three regular migrants. The colourfuladults may survive for just a few weeks but they certainlybrighten up our lives.

NA

TUR

ALLY

SC

OTTIS

HS

NH

&B

CS

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TTERFLIES

Butterflies

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