Page 1 of 1
Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:36 pm
by 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?
Re: Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:39 pm
by 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?
Re: Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:54 pm
by Murph
Of course Guy, I hadn't thought of that!
I did get some upper wing shots, I'll check them.
Re: Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:03 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Yes, I think it's probably a population study as part of the Warton Crag Management Plan (Lancashire Wildlife Trust?)
Trev
Re: Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:18 pm
by 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
Re: Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 6:00 am
by 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
Re: Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 6:20 pm
by 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
Re: Violet spots on PBFrit underwing.
Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 7:04 pm
by Murph
Thanks to all for the informative replies. Paul.