The
rare heath fritillary was on the brink of extinction in the 1970s, but
conservation action turned its fortunes around. It is still confined to a
small number of sites in the south of England, however.
About
The
heath fritillary is a rare butterfly that is restricted to a few key
habitats: primarily, coppiced woodland or sheltered heathland where it
can be seen flying close to the ground in a distinctive
flutter-and-glide pattern. It is confined to a small number of sites in
Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Kent, and has also been reintroduced into
sites in Essex. Although very local in its distribution, this butterfly
can be seen in large numbers in good years. It forms discrete colonies
and rarely strays from its main breeding grounds.How to identify
The
heath fritillary is variable in terms of both the colour and the
pattern of the wings, but it mostly displays a dusky, orange-and-brown
chequered pattern.Distribution
Restricted to parts of South West and South East England.Did you know?
Colonies in South East
England are found in woodlands where the larval foodplant, common
cow-wheat, grows. Colonies in South West England are found on heathlands
that are home to the larval foodplants ribwort plantain and germander
speedwell.
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