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NEWSLETTER No. 13 -  Summer 1985

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Butterflies of the West Midlands

We are very fortunate that within the area covered by the West Midlands Branch we can boast 43 indigenous species plus 3 regular migrants. Members responding to the Branch questionnaire were keen to receive more information about the identification and distribution of butterflies within the region, so with this in mind we are introducing a regular spot in the newsletter in which we will look at each species in turn. A long term project, which, on the basis of one species per newsletter, will take us twenty odd years to complete. For those lacking in this kind of patience, therefore, we offer a general introduction. We very much hope to be able to include original material in our review of each butterfly, and contributions based on the observations of members will be most welcome.

Skippers

Large and Small Skippers are common and widespread throughout much of the region in both grassland and woodland sites. The latter species, particularly, appears to have extended its range in recent years, especially in Staffordshire. The Dingy and Grizzled Skippers are much more local in their distribution but are still found in all the West Midlands counties. There are old records of the Chequered Skipper for Worcs. and Warks. but it had mainly disappeared by the turn of the century and it is now considered extinct in England. There have been, similarly, no recent records of the Essex Skipper, although this is undoubtedly a species to look out for in the east of our region, as it has been extending its range in Northamptonshire. The Silver-spotted Skipper is confined to calcareous grassland, and has recently been rediscovered in Gloucestershire by a branch member. The Lulworth Skipper is totally confined to the south coast.

Whites and Yellows

Large, Small and Green-veined Whites plus the Orange Tip are widespread and common. The distribution of the Brimstone is thought to be mainly determined by the distribution of its two food plants. It is well distributed in Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire but much less so in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. The stronghold of the Wood White is undoubtedly Herefordshire where it is sometimes locally common, and it also occurs locally in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The butterfly does not occur in Staffordshire and may now be extinct in Shropshire. The Clouded Yellow might occur anywhere and sometimes does. The last record for Black-veined White within the region was 1923 from Worcestershire.

Hairstreaks

Green, White-letter and Purple Hairstreaks occur locally throughout the region. All three are undoubtedly under-recorded and more localities are yet to be found in every county. The Purple Hairstreak appears to be less common in the northern part of the region with very few records for Staffordshire, Shropshire and north Warwickshire. Black Hairstreak does not occur in the West Midlands counties, while Brown Hairstreak is only currently known from a few sites in Worcestershire. The latter's exact status in Warwickshire, where it has occurred in recent years, is still to be determined, but there are hopes that it may survive.

Coppers

The Small Copper is widespread and common but very variable from year to year. The native Large Copper is of course extinct, but there are old Staffordshire records from the east of the county, and two mysterious reports from Worcestershire around 1950.

Blues

Eight species of "Blue" butterfly occur within the region, but only one, the Common Blue, is at all widely distributed, sometimes occurring in urban areas as well as grassland and woodland sites. Another "Blue" often seen in towns is the Holly Blue, which is more variable in abundance. Like the Common Blue, there are two generations a year throughout most of the region, except for the north, where there may be only one. The remaining "Blues" are much more local in their distribution. The Silver-studded Blue is now known from only one site in Shropshire, but there are a few old records for other counties. The strongholds of the Small Blue are Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, where it occurs locally on limestone soils. It is much reduced in Worcestershire and its current status on the limestone of north Staffordshire is uncertain, although a new colony has been discovered, in the Cannock area, in last few years. There are no recent records of this species in Herefordshire or Shropshire. We are fortunate to have within our catchment area both species of Brown Argus. The Brown Argus proper is still locally common on the Cotswolds, but becomes much scarcer as one heads north. Its current status in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire is rather uncertain and few sites remain in Worcestershire. Staffordshire can boast of the southernmost localities of the Northern Brown Argus which occurs in several limestone dales. Chalkhill Blues are now only to be found in Gloucestershire, disappearing finally from Worcestershire only six years ago. Adonis and Large Blues have not now been reliably recorded on the Cotswolds for the past twenty years and many extensive searches have been made by entomologists over the years. There are also old Large Blue records for Worcestershire, the last around 1920. The long extinct Mazarine Blue was certainly found in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.

Metalmarks

The Duke of Burgundy is now found locally only on the Cotswolds. There are old records for Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Aristocrats

The White Admiral is strictly a woodland butterfly and is still found locally in all the West Midlands' counties bar Staffordshire. In recent years there has been a pleasing extension to its range, in many cases recolonising old sites. Conversely the Purple Emperor has mainly deserted the region this century, the only fairly recent reports coming from the Forest of Dean and Worcestershire. The Red Admiral is mainly a migrant species and therefore can turn up anywhere. The Painted Lady has been much less numerous of late, the last good year being 1980. The Small Tortoiseshell is one of our commonest butterflies, a familiar visitor to our gardens, sometimes in very large numbers. In contrast, the Large Tortoiseshell is now very scarce and the situation is complicated by the irresponsible release of this species by butterfly farms and other breeders. The Peacock, like the Small Tortoiseshell, needs no introduction, being another familiar garden visitor throughout the region. The Comma is equally well known, but is less frequent in the north of the region.

Fritillaries

Six species of Fritillary occur within the region, although all are very local in their distribution. Warwickshire is the most impoverished county having lost all their Fritillaries with the exception of the Dark Green, which appears to be hanging on at one location. The Silver-washed is the most widely distributed, occurring in all counties bar Staffordshire and Warwickshire. With the exception of the Cotswolds, the Dark Green is, perhaps surprisingly, scarce with very few regular sites. The region assumes national importance for the endangered High Brown Fritillary, which occurs locally in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. The two small woodland Fritillaries still occur locally in the west of the region, with the Pearl Bordered predominating, except in Staffordshire, where only the Small Pearl Bordered is to be found. The Marsh Fritillary has seemingly almost disappeared, only occurring at one Worcestershire site and a handful of locations in Gloucestershire. The Glanville Fritillary has never been recorded from the region, except for a report at Miserden, Gloucestershire, near the branch reserve, which was clearly a release from captive stock. There is an old Heath Fritillary record for Staffordshire contained in the Victoria County History.

Browns

The Speckled Wood, Ringlet and Gatekeeper are all reasonably well distributed in woodland and along hedgerows, although there is a noticeable thinning out at one goes northwards, indeed Ringlet is decidedly scarce in Staffordshire. The ubiquitous Meadow Brown occurs in almost every conceivable habitat including waste sites in major cities. The Wall Brown is also widespread but never seen in anywhere near the same numbers. In the West Midlands, the Marbled White is on the edge of its range and, apart from on the Cotswolds, is very local in its distribution, often a feature of disused railway lines in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. It is not known from Staffordshire or Shropshire except for the odd vagrant. The distribution of Grayling is now concentrated in just three areas: the Cotswold Hills, the Malverns and the South Shropshire hills. There are very old records for Dovedale, Staffordshire, and, if one goes even further back a book published in 1834 mentions "Bewdley Forest" as a location. Small Mountain Ringlet and Scotch Argus have a northerly distribution in the U.K. and have not occurred this far south, although there is a 1947 record of the latter for the Wyre Forest. Of our two Heath butterflies, the Small Heath is widespread and found in every West Midlands' county, while the Large Heath is now confined to the mosses of north Shropshire, although formerly it also occurred in Staffordshire.