Marbled Whites and acid soil

[cyberinsekt]

Here in the old Somerset coalfield Marbled Whites fly in good numbers on the acidic former spoil heaps, some of which are now grassed over and make for good habitat for some of our grassland butterflies. Marbled Whites are equally happy on the alkaline soils of the railway sidings that used to serve the collieries.

[Deb London]

Thanks cyberinsekt.

[INHT]

Hi Deb,

Did you go on the Horsenden Hill butterfly walk? I'm going to google to see where that is. I saw my first Marbled White last Friday at Hutchinsons Bank in N. Surrey. There were loads of them. I don't know how many there usually are but if that's anything to go by, they're having a good year. I decided they are my favourite butterfly (until I see my next new one no doubt!)
All the best,
Becky

[Deb London]

Hi Becky, I did indeed go. I tried to remember what a fescue looked like, but failed, so I will probably buy a book to stop me photographing random species like Agrostis spp.

For a city dweller like me the place was an unexpected oasis and will definitely be returning to explore more. There is a field centre with loos very near the White-letter Hairstreaks. I didn't get chance to explore the hill, and there are fields with ponds too I believe. I think it was in a field near the ponds that we saw Marbled Whites, so if you are near, you might enjoy the area.

[Johnny Redgate]

Hi Deb
In most cases a grass with tightly rolled, thread-like leaves will be one of the fescue - red fescue in neutral habitats and sheep's fescue in acidic or calcareous. There will be overlap but red fescue is the taller and more robust species. The main confusing species in acidic grasslands is Wavy Hair-grass but this has a lovely open panicle with silvery spikelets and is very distinctive in flower. There are other fine-leaved grasses but this rough guide will probably be OK.
I do think you'll do well to find your Marbled White eggs though!

[Deb London]

Thanks Johnny. I used to think trees were hard, but grasses are even more difficult.

I'm not sure I'm too bothered about finding eggs. My interest is in the grasses that the female butterflies are interested in. Eventually I should be OK with the ID of a few grasses and I might even be able to sex the butterflies. This is all filed under what I would call "fun" (I swear one becomes more nutty the more one becomes interested in such things ).

[g8ina]

Quite a few at Summer Leys in the open area going C/W from the car park just before you join the railway line.

I'll see if I can find out what the soil is like.

[meatq6]

Remember also that these butterflies use chemicals from fungi that grow on the plants to make distasteful elements in the adults that act to prevent attacks on them by birds and by other predators.

[Deb London]

Thanks David.

I didn't know that meatq6.