Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.

[Murph]

Late this afternoon I was searching for Pearl Bordered Fritillaries on Warton Crag and found this one with a strange underwing pattern. Has anyone seen this before?

[Padfield]

It looks like a marking experiment to me. It would be most unusual to find natural markings there.

Guy

Did you get any shots from the other side?

[Murph]

Of course Guy, I hadn't thought of that!
I did get some upper wing shots, I'll check them.

[Trev Sawyer]

Yes, I think it's probably a population study as part of the Warton Crag Management Plan (Lancashire Wildlife Trust?)

Trev

[Murph]

Nothing to report on upper wing shots.
Does anyone know anything about this study? Presumably the marking would be to identify if an individual has moved from one territory to another... Paul

[Pete Eeles]

"Mark and recapture" is a standard technique for monitoring population size (although it can also be used as an indication of dispersal too). See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_and_recapture

Cheers,

- Pete

[stu51]

I was at Warton Crag yesterday and they were doing a study, a chap saw me taking photos and he told me that they were marking the butterflies he even showed me some photos, I didn't however see any, glad you managed to see some.
Regards Stuart

[Murph]

Thanks to all for the informative replies. Paul.