Large Copper Reintroduction?

markhows · Post by **markhows** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:56 pm

With good news stories such as the natural colonisation of the Fens by Common Cranes and the expansion of Fenland areas like the great fen project are there any discussions about the re introduction of Large Copper, I know this happened in the past but with a larger area would it be feasable?

Mark

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:14 pm

I don't know, but I would like to see it sucessful. Here is an article I found:

The crucial change is to remove areas of scrub that crowd out the two plants imperative to the butterfly's succcess. One is the great water dock, the only plant on the leaves of which the fussy female Large Copper will lay her eggs.

The other is purple loosestrife, the butterfly's favoured source of nectar and also the favourite plant for males to sit and display themselves to attract females. This is only successful if the loosestrife is taller than surrounding plants so that the butterfly is widely visible - not possible if scrub is allowed to grow unchecked as it crowds over the loosestrife.

Matsukaze · Post by **Matsukaze** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:53 pm

They are not saying anything, but I think the Great Fen people would like to reintroduce the butterfly if the picture on the top right hand corner of their homepage is anything to go by...

http://www.greatfen.org.uk