Life Cycles of British and Irish Butterflies

[PhilBJohnson]

Hello Pete,

Thank you for the effort that will be put into this publication.
You probably might well know this, but the best advice I could give you, is to try and past tense timings with a specific date. What i meant by that was, there was much previous historic literature that has said something like:
"this species emerges in August", but after many years and climate change, a wonderer with an old book just came across one butterfly left from that brood, on it's last leg!
I hope that your book will have longevity, and will lead, pushing forward some new "Species protection laws", that are not just associated with the Imago,

Kind regards.

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Philip,

Yes - the book will have up-to-date phenology information. As for species protection laws, these already apply to all stages.

Cheers,

- Pete

[PhilBJohnson]

Hello Pete,
I thought that it would be nice (and make sense) for any captive breeding of any butterfly species (which can affect Butterfly Conservation (BC) "on the wing sightings and flight times) to be only legal, if one was a member of BC, a bit like one needed an Environment Agency rod licence to go fishing in a river.

Kind Regards.

[KeithS]

I thought that it would be nice (and make sense) for any captive breeding of any butterfly species (which can affect Butterfly Conservation (BC) "on the wing sightings and flight times) to be only legal, if one was a member of BC, a bit like one needed an Environment Agency rod licence to go fishing in a river.

Phil: I think the Wildlife and Countryside Act already provides perfectly adequate protection for our most endangered butterflies. I do not think that BC should go down the self-righteous, we-know-best, busy-bodying path that Natural England or the RSPCA has chosen.

I would be interested to know what specific activities you would criminalise and how you would define "captive breeding".

You seem to be suggesting (forgive me if I misunderstand your intent) that you would ban someone from raising and releasing a few butterflies into their garden on the basis that it might mess up some BC anorak's numbers? That would not be "nice" at all, nor would it make much sense.

[Pete Eeles]

Hello Pete,
I thought that it would be nice (and make sense) for any captive breeding of any butterfly species (which can affect Butterfly Conservation (BC) "on the wing sightings and flight times) to be only legal, if one was a member of BC, a bit like one needed an Environment Agency rod licence to go fishing in a river.

Kind Regards.

Hi Philip - there are laws and policies in place for releases (and captive rearing - such as obtaining donor stock) that are quite clear about what can and cannot be done. Also, I’m not sure why you think that being a BC member would automatically qualify someone for special treatment.

Cheers,

- Pete

[PhilBJohnson]

Hello Pete,
Caterpillar Conservation
I recently read about a first prosecution regarding a man wielding a child's fishing net ("butterfly net") and the Large Blue butterfly. I thought that collecting "Butterfly Wings" for collections protected endangered species a little, but most people now had been "educated out of that one" and the use of digital photography.
I found it frustrating when a law caught one "Phillip" but huge species declines had taken place, relating to habitat loss, a butterfly species basic need for the native caterpillar food plant they evolved with and possible other dependant relationships.
I have (of course) ordered your book and would encourage others to make that investment,

Kind Regards

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks for the order, Philip!

I don’t think that enforcing the law and protecting habitats are mutually exclusive, and both need to be pursued. But I agree that habitat loss (and changing management practices) has caused significant problems for our butterfly fauna.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Jack Harrison]

Pete:

But I agree that habitat loss (and changing management practices) has caused significant problems for our butterfly fauna.

In that not-so-secret glen to the west of Spean Bridge the habitat along quite a length of the glen would appear to be very safe and probably needs little or no management to ensure that the Chequered Skipper thrives. Leaving alone will almost certainly suffice and doubtless the same is true in many of the CS localities in the Spean Bridge/Fort William area. So perversely one of our rarest butterflies is probably one of the most secure.

Jack

[Pete Eeles]

'Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies' reached a major milestone today, with all 400 pages of the book designed ... from the Swallowtail through to the Chalk Hill Blue. It's looking absolutely superb (even if I say so myself!) ... a great job by Peter Creed at NatureBureau, a lovely foreword from Chris Packham, and on track for publication on 1st Oct! [when the pre-publication offer will end - https://www.naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop ... ies-detail]

Cheers,

- Pete

[Jack Harrison]

I look forward to it but I do hope that the publishers haven’t made that awful mistake of splitting some images so that they are partly on the left page, partly on the right: it ruins them.

Jack

[Pete Eeles]

I look forward to it but I do hope that the publishers haven’t made that awful mistake of splitting some images so that they are partly on the left page, partly on the right: it ruins them.

Jack

Not a single split image, Jack

Cheers,

- Pete

[Jack Harrison]

Not a single split image, Jack

Excellent. Maybe the promotional blurb could stress that.

Compare with this week's New Scientist. One image is split by a mutli-page advertising feature. I have written to NS about this annoyance but the reply is along the lines that "everyone else does it".

Jack

[Pete Eeles]

‪Written, reviewed, amended, designed, reviewed, amended, printed out, reviewed, amended - time for one last review, then off to the printers in August! Nice to see it printed out, which makes it more ‘real’! I’ll have to find something else to focus on now ... UKB 3.0 maybe

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugboy]

Christmas is coming early for many of us this year

[Pete Eeles]

And today I finally got my hands on my life's work! I'm really happy with the way it's turned out, although I am biased of course! I've signed around 250 copies for supporters - which will turn up early next week (possibly by the weekend), with pre-publication orders following. I'd love to hear what people think so please let me know - or respond here directly, if it's positive feedback

I should also thank all UKBers, since this website gave me the impetus to create this work - the interactions on the forums (including personal diaries) have been particularly insightful, some of which directly influenced the book content. And, of course, thanks to those that provided photos and/or acted as a species reviewer - you're all acknowledged!

My new challenge is to find a new project to get my teeth stuck into

Cheers,

- Pete

[Neil Hulme]

Congratulations, Pete. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. A little premature to review it, but I just know it's going to be grrrreat!
BWs, Neil

[Mark Tutton]

Congratulations Pete - I am so looking forward to receiving my copy - can’t wait - it will compliment my Frohawk nearly a hundred year after publication. I will look forward what your next instalment - Kind Regards Mark

[Padfield]

Congratulations Pete! It looks an absolutely stunning book. Like Neil, I'll resist the temptation to review it before I get my copy, but I've got my Roget's Dictionary of Superlatives open and ready for when I do.

Guy

[petesmith]

Congratulations Pete! A great achievement, and like everyone else, I am really looking forward to receiving my copy and indulging. Brilliant stuff!

[David M]

Marvellous, Pete. Must be a great feeling to pick it up and leaf through it knowing how much work was spent in its creation.

Don't worry about people posting reviews....I'm absolutely sure all will be very positive!