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Cornish Red Data (2009)

The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.

Boloria euphrosyne - Large-pearl Bordered Fritillary



Range & Status

Widespread and locally abundant throughout Britain, but populations have declined by 51% over ten years to 2004 (Fox et al ., 2006). Widespread from northern Spain to Scandinavia and eastward to Russia and Asia. Said to be stable across Europe although declining in at least twelve countries (Asher et al ., 2001).

Regional Distribution

Once widespread, it is now comparatively rare in Cornwall (Wacher, Worth & Spalding, 2003) with possibly just seven colonies at Fellover Bridge, Bunny' s Hill, De Lank Quarry, Pendrift Downs, Millandreath, Marsland and Valency Valley. Recent records from the far west near Land' s End and St. Just have not been confirmed in follow up surveys and are not backed by historical records. Confirmation is needed from Treslea Downs where individuals were recorded in 2001 and 2005, and from the Rame Peninsula where the butterfly was seen in 2005 and 2007.

Habitat & Ecology

The females lay eggs on or near violets Viola spp. in dry, Bracken Pteridium aquilinum dominated habitats sheltered either by European Gorse Ulex europaeus , Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus scrub or in rough grassland surrounded by woods. Larvae bask regularly on leaf litter and dead bracken.

Threats

Site management should aim to provide an ephemeral habitat. The cessation of grazing leads to excessive bracken litter and shading by scrub encroachment. Excessive grazing leads to the removal of all bracken litter and shelter.

Conservation

The continuance of light scrub clearance and agreed grazing regimes to maintain a mosaic of Violets, Bracken, dead leaf litter and shelter from scrub. It is possible that small colonies could still be found so recorders should be encouraged to examine Small Pearlbordered Fritillaries Boloria selene to confirm identifications. A UK BAP priority species.



Click here to see Aphotoflora images by David Fenwick

Source:

I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.

The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.