Thursday, 16 February 2012
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Butterfly
Scientific Name:
Boloria selene
Wingspan (mm):
41 mm (male) 44mm (female) Description
Upperwing is an orange brown ground colour with black marking and numerous black spots. The underwing has seven white spots on the margin of the hindwing with black edges to define them. Several white spots towards the centre and base of the wing. This fritillary is similar in size and habits to the Pearl-bordered Fritillary but is more widespread and occurs in damper, grassy habitats as well as woodland clearings and moorland. The adults fly close to the ground, stopping frequently to take nectar from flowers such as Bramble and thistles. It can be identified from the more numerous whitish pearls on the underside hind wings, the outer ones bordered by black chevrons, and from the larger black central dot.
Distribution
The butterfly remains widespread and locally abundant in Scotland and Wales, but has undergone a severe decline in England.
Habitat
There are four main habitats: woodland glades and clearings (mainly in southern Britain); damp grassland and moorland (in western and northern Britain); grassland with bracken and/or patches of scrub; and open wood-pasture and wood edges in Scotland, usually where there is some grazing by deer and/or sheep. Other habitats used include dune slacks and coastal cliffs. In all habitats it breeds in damp, grassy vegetation where there is abundant foodplant growing in a fairly lush sward.
Diet
The most widely used foodplants are Common Dog-violet and Marsh Violet. It may occasionally feed on other violet species.
Status
UK BAP status: Priority Species Butterfly Conservation priority: high European threat status: not threatened