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NEWSLETTER No. 13 -  Summer 1985

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Book Review

"Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland" by J. Heath, E. Pollard and J. Thomas. Published by Viking Press at £17.95.


This fascinating book draws its material from three main sources. First and foremost, the distribution records of the Biological Records Centre, originally set up by the Nature Conservancy Council in 1962 and operated from the Monks Wood Experimental Station at Abbots Ripton. Secondly, data from the Butterfly Monitoring scheme set up in 1976 to monitor changes in the abundance of butterflies and eventually covering some eighty or so sites in different parts of the country. Thirdly, extracts from original research undertaken into the ecological requirements of particular species, much of which has not been previously brought together in one publication. Sixty-two species are covered by the book, including the three commonest migrants which appear in varying numbers in most Summers. For each species a distribution map plots all records received for the periods pre-1940, 1940-69, 1970-82 and an accompanying text explains the contractions and/or expansions of range over this period and offers some insights into what is known of the butterfly's life history and particular habitat preferences.

A number of points strike home very forcibly, perhaps the most important being the general decline in the distribution of most species over the past 150 years. This period has seen the extinction of four species (five if one includes the Chequered Skipper which has disappeared from England and Wales) and a major reduction in the range of another 13 species. (Thirteen of these butterflies incidentally still occur in the area covered by the West Midlands branch and seven are regularly in our two branch reserves.) Clearly a number of factors has led to this catastrophic decline, but the evidence suggests that the single main cause has been the change and destruction of butterfly habitat. Most BBCS members will be already familiar with the changes in the countryside, especially over the last fifty years, and these are well documented in this book. Because of their short life cycles and often very specific requirements, butterflies are very sensitive to change, and the authors are pessimistic about the future of many species over the next twenty years.

Another important point which this book serves to highlight is the severe limitations of our knowledge even about fairly common butterflies. Most recent books on butterflies have tended to repeat information of earlier writers and in some cases this has led to major errors. Thus in the case of the Wood White, recent work by Martin Warren has shown that the main food plants are Meadow Vetchling, Bird's-Foot Trefoil, Bitter Vetch and Tufted Vetch, and not the often stated Tuberous Pea. The book also served to solve a personal puzzle over the Grizzled Skipper, where Wild Strawberry is often quoted as the only food plant. I have known strong colonies where there is little, if any, Wild Strawberry, and it is therefore illuminating to read that the butterfly has several other foodplants including Tormentil and Cinquefoil. It is a sad fact that the ecology of less than a quarter of the species found in the U.K. has been seriously studied and even with some of these there is undoubtedly more to be learned. There is a large gap which the enthusiastic and observant amateur can fill and hopefully the book will encourage BBCS members and others to undertake investigative work that will enlarge our knowledge. Our own work with the White-letter Hairstreak is a good example of the kind of project which needs to be extended to other species. A very useful bibliography should point the way for anyone contemplating such work.

This kind of book does of course become quickly outdated and the authors admit that some of the distribution maps convey an over-optimistic picture of the species current distribution. The White-letter Hairstreak is obviously a case in point, but the most extreme example is the Chequered Skipper which is recorded for seven 10km squares in the East Midlands whereas in fact it is now only found in Scotland. It will be very important for the BBCS, who have now assumed responsibility for the recording scheme, to keep distribution maps up to date and maintain a close watch on our more local species. The rapid demise of the Chequered Skipper shows how quickly losses can occur.

Despite its horrendous price - £17.95 for only 150 pages - the book is an essential work of reference for the butterfly conservationist, and, indeed, for anyone wanting to extend their knowledge about butterflies. Everyone, no matter how expert, will learn something from reading this book.



"Field Guide to the Butterflies and other insects of Britain", published by Reader's Digest at £8.50.

It seems rather a pity at a time when J. Heath et al should be trying to correct past errors that a new book should be published which serves to compound them. To mention just a few of the worst errors: the Chequered Skipper is described as having lived "in a diagonal strip of limestone countryside from Devon to Lincolnshire - the same area as the Large Blue (which became extinct at about the same time) and the Black Hairstreak" (at least 3 errors in this quote); a number of Brimstones are depicted at rest with their wings open; and the Purple Emperor is described as "flying along paths in deciduous woodland. In the morning they will feed on the nectar of flowers growing along the path ... It now occurs only in parts of the New Forest and the Forest of Dean and is conserved on one Ministry of Defence site". To be fair, much of the information provided is perfectly sound, but obviously the more startling errors do undermine ones confidence in the rest.

From the butterfly point of view this book cannot be recommended. For those interested in insects generally, however, where there is not such a wide choice of books, this book may prove useful.



"Wildlife of Wolverhampton" by Godfrey Blunt with illustrations by Shirley Price, published by Staffordshire NCT in co-operation with Wolverhampton MBC.
Available price 85p including postage from 30a Windmill Lane, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton.

This very well written and produced booklet describes in some detail the wealth of wildlife in the heart of a big city like Wolverhampton. A range of habitats are identified and examples are given of the often surprising range of flora and fauna to be found. Wild flowers like Greater Knapweed, Bogbean and Flowering Rush are not normally associated with urban areas yet they all occur in Wolverhampton. Great Crested Newts, a species receiving special protection under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, are another surprise. Butterfly enthusiasts may be pleasantly surprised to learn of at least one thriving colony of Green Hairstreaks, while Cinnabar moths, with their black and gold coloured larvae, seem to be doing rather better than the local football team that, wears the same colours.

This book serves to demonstrate that our birds, insects, plants and mammals are remarkable opportunists and that, within the most, at first sight, unlikely areas, there is much to be discovered and enjoyed. This book will help you to do just that and is exceedingly good value for money.