Marbled Whites and acid soil

[Deb London]

A recent colony of Marbled White butterflies seems to have made its home near me. The reserve has acid soil. I heard this was unexpected.

Do any WABBERS know of other MW colonies on acid soil? Also, any information wrt larval food plants in this environment would be interesting.

Thanks.

[artdemole]

Food plants-Red Fescue,Timothy,Sheep Fescue ,Cock's Foot And Tor grass.

[Johnny Redgate]

Red Fescue (the most important larval food plant), sheep's fescue and Yorkshire fog are not restricted to calcareous soils so other grassland types can be used. I know of a population that established on a reclaimed colliery spoil heap with neutral/slightly acidic soil.

[Deb London]

Thanks both.

I will now start learning those species and go to the site and bend over tussocks until people think I'm mad.

[aeshna5]

There's been a small colony on Horsenden Hill for a few years now which is mainly on London clay, so I'm guessing slightly acidic. It's a butterfly that has turned up at quite a few new sites around London over the last decade or so.

[Deb London]

Thanks aeshna.

Just planning my summer outings and the natural history society has a Horsenden Hill butterfly walk planned. I'll have to attend and see for myself which grasses they are landing on.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Thanks aeshna.

Just planning my summer outings and the natural history society has a Horsenden Hill butterfly walk planned. I'll have to attend and see for myself which grasses they are landing on.

Yes it's this Saturday, though forecast I've just seen shows rain! They normally run the moth trap the previous evening + usually has a good haul. A good site for both White Letter + Purple Hairstreaks if conditions are suitable, though I know Andy recorded the former quite early this year, so don't know if they are still on the wing now.

[Deb London]

Yes, it all depends on the weather. Luckily there are always bird walks to fall back on.

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by Deb London

I'll have to attend and see for myself which grasses they are landing on.

Good luck with that! I thought they dropped their eggs in flight but I've just checked in the Milenium Atlas and apparently they perch briefly in the grass and squirt eggs out without direct placement. Hatched larvae immediately enter hibernation and begin to feed the following spring on the fine grasses i.e. the fescues.

[Deb London]

Thanks Johnny. I wonder if I can find hatched larvae as well.

Beautiful butterflies. Someone posted that they thought they were having a good year.