www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Making more marbled white's at Wingate Quarry, Co.Durham

My, this species sure is extending its range. Have we had any Scottish records yet, I wonder?

There was a release of Marbled Whites carried out in this area about 15-20 years ago as part of a research project by one of the northern universities into the effects of climate change. I'm not sure if these butterflies are the result of that release, or if the species has spread from further south.

Matsukaze wrote:There was a release of Marbled Whites carried out in this area about 15-20 years ago as part of a research project by one of the northern universities into the effects of climate change. I'm not sure if these butterflies are the result of that release, or if the species has spread from further south.

Thanks for that, Matsukaze. I wasn't aware of this release but I suppose it makes sense given the distance between this location and its established sites.

This was the study (Open Access so you should all be able to read the full thing). My current bosses in York were heavily involved in the project. They also gave Small Skipper a helping hand into Northumberland. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ful ... 08.00043.x

Thanks for that link, Callum. You learn something new and interesting every day!

Encouraging to see the population is still surviving at the site after all this time. I wonder how much further north the species could now survive if it had the opportunity to do so?