www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Took these today (27/06/10) at the bbowt finemere site in buckinghamshire, I can't id and was wondering if anyone can help? I would say it was similar in size to the likes of a red admiral. Thanks
Walt

Hi Walt,
I think it is a Marbled Fritillary - and I seem to remember there were a few seen there last year - presumably an unauthorised release as they are certainly not native to the UK. I wonder if any have bred in the wood(?), or whether the same person has released more captive bred stock into the wood again.

Trev

Trev Sawyer wrote:Hi Walt,
I think it is a Marbled Fritillary - and I seem to remember there were a few seen there last year - presumably an unauthorised release as they are certainly not native to the UK. I wonder if any have bred in the wood(?), or whether the same person has released more captive bred stock into the wood again.

Trev

Hi Trev, I'd come to the conclusion that it was a marbled Fritillary, but didn't want to say (best to be thought a fool than open my mouth and remove all doubt ) as I knew it was not a UK species. I wasn't aware of the previous sightings or that someone had probably released them. Thanks very much for that.
Walt

This is a butterfly of the hot south, but it has been creeping up through France in recent years and the foodplant is common enough in the UK. Just because of its association with very hot localities in Europe, I wouldn't expect it to be able to survive in the UK, but in case some do breed, this is what you need to keep a look out for in May/June next year:



Guy

I've just seen the Beds and Northants BC sitings page and it says that more were reported from Brackley and Wellingborough areas a few days ago. Having had such a cold winter, it surely seems unlikely that they could have hung on in the wild over here?

http://www.bedsnorthants-butterflies.org.uk/index.html

Trev

I don't think it can be the coldness of the winter that counts. They do well in my local woods and we regularly get far more severe winters than the UK, with temperatures of minus 12°C for weeks on end. This winter was particularly long and cold and they haven't been put off by it. The miserable spring weather, however, did dampen their enthusiasm for life.

Guy

I believe these have been reported from the same location for the last two years... No doubt the Upper Thames branch folk can confirm this. Wendy is the advertised contact for sightings:
wendy.cambell@tiscali.co.uk

Dave

Yes the Marbled Fritillary has been seen now at Finemere for the last 3 years at least . Whether this is the result of 1 original introduction or repeated releases would be very interesting .

Indeed. A bit of both, possibly?

Is this species particularly easy to obtain? I'm just wondering why this one, as opposed to the many other species found on the continent, but not in the UK...

Dave

millerd wrote:I'm just wondering why this one, as opposed to the many other species found on the continent, but not in the UK...
Dave

Might it be because of the ease of obtaining the foodplant (bramble)?

Guy

There's no shortage of that...

What would hinder it from becoming fully established, if there is plenty of food and it doesn't mind low temperatures?

There's a lot about these creatures we don't know...

Dave

Thanks to everyone for the information. Guy, I will look out for the caterpillar and Dave, I have sent the information to the email contact. This was a great sighting for me, slightly dampened by the fact that it is probably an unofficial release but I only went there to see a purple emperor! (actually got to see my first black hair-streak and my first uk sighting of a white admiral - unfortunately no photos of either).