The Comma • Autumn 2011 - Butterfly Conservation

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Flying start for Big Ash Bash Asurvey of ash trees in east Worcestershire, organised by West Midlands Branch of Butterfly Conservation, has so far confirmed five new trees used by the nationally rare Brown Hairstreak. Among the new trees is one on the Naunton Court Fields nature reserve owned by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. The butterflies assemble around ash trees shortly after they emerge and it’s here that breeding takes place. Mike Williams, Brown Hairstreak Champion for BC, explained: “While we know that ash trees form a very important role in the life of Brown Hairstreaks so far we have identified relatively few of the trees involved. The aim of the Big Ash Bash this year has been to try to fill this gap in our knowledge and we are delighted with our success in finding several new trees. Our volunteers made early morning visits to a number of ash trees in the hope of spotting this elusive butterfly. “The stronghold for the butterfly in the entire Midlands region is Grafton Wood at nearby Grafton Flyford. Together with the Wildlife Trust, we’ve been working with local landowners and communities throughout the ancient Forest of Feckenham to improve habitats for the butterflies. “Over the last five years we’ve seen both their population expand in numbers and in range. To find out that they’ve successfully colonised ashes in How the success was reported in the Worcester News 34 The Comma • Autumn 2011 The nationally rare Brown Hairstreak (Neil Avery) Naunton Beauchamp as well as trees in Bradley Green and Astwood Bank to the north and Rous Lench to the south is absolutely brilliant news.” The butterflies are a national priority for conservation. They spend a lot of time in tree An egg (Gill Thompson) canopies and are often hard to spot. From late August female Brown Hairstreaks will descend to hedgerows to lay their eggs on young blackthorn. The eggs remain on the blackthorn throughout the winter months and hatch in late April. The caterpillars feed on the blackthorn leaves before descending to the ground to pupate. They emerge as butterflies in July to feed mainly, it is believed, on the honeydew secreted by aphids. Around 40 people attended the Brown Hairstreak Open Day at Grafton Wood on 4 September, but once again we were badly affected by poor weather. Everyone was able to see Brown Hairstreak eggs, but it was only those who stayed on in the afternoon who were fortunate enough to see the butterfly on the wing. Meanwhile, a number of days have been planned over the winter to search for Brown Hairstreak eggs (see page 32) and further dates will be published in the regular Brown Hairstreak ebulletin (contact Mike if you would like to be added to the circulation list).
Committee Members and Officers Chairman John Tilt john.tilt2@btopenworld.com 01386 792458 Vice Chairman and Conservation Officer Mike Southall michael_southall58@hotmail.co.uk 01299 251467 Treasurer Ron Hatton ronmhatton@aol.com 01242 673923 Branch Secretary Joy Stevens joystevens@blueyonder.co.uk 01384 372397 Senior Regional Officer Dr Jenny Joy jjoy@butterfly-conservation.org 01952 249325 Branch Recorder Nigel Stone njstone@hotmail.com 02476 335189 MapMate Administrator Jim Cresswell jcbcwm@gmail.com 01785 712273 Transects John Tilt john.tilt2@btopenworld.com 01386 792458 Research Officer John Dover jdover@nymph.demon.co.uk 01925 752905 Reserve Managers Ewyas Harold - Ian Hart yellowrattle4@aol.com 01981 510259 Grafton Wood - John Tilt john.tilt2@btopenworld.com 01386 792458 Monkwood - George Groves george_groves@btopenworld.com 01905 620721 Prees Heath - Stephen Lewis slewis@butterfly-conservation.org 07900 886809 Trench Wood - Neil McLean NeilMidlandArb@aol.com 07710 626668 Conservation Officers Worcestershire - Trevor Bucknall trevor.bucknall@talktalk.net 01905 755757 Herefordshire - Ian Hart yellowrattle4@aol.com 01981 510259 Shropshire - Dr Jenny Joy jjoy@butterfly-conservation.org 01952 245684 Moth Officers Birmingham and the Black Country David Jackson jacksongrus@talktalk.net 01902 344716 Herefordshire - Robin Hemming robinhemming@btinternet.com 01568 797351 Worcestershire - Mike Southall michael_southall58@hotmail.com 01299 251467 County Leaders North Staffordshire - John Bryan johnpbryan15@aol.com 01782 541870 Central Staffordshire - Robert Winstanley robandpatwin@btinternet.com 01889 576768 South Staffordshire - David Jackson jacksongrus@talktalk.net 01902 344716 Herefordshire - Dean Fenton fenton@littleburyfarm.co.uk 01568 611575 Brown Hairstreak Champion Mike Williams mike@stagborough.fsnet.co.uk 01299 824860 Newsletter Editor Roger Wasley thecomma@btinternet.com 01242 603765 Autumn 2011 • The Comma 35
Page 1 and 2: The Comma No.80 Autumn 2011 www.wes
Page 3 and 4: Notes from the Chairman and Ewyas H
Page 5 and 6: Larvae in final instar (Trevor Buck
Page 7 and 8: Branch News… Trench Wood Moth and
Page 9 and 10: Amazing find as Dave encounters a R
Page 11 and 12: Brown Hairstreak Caterpillar Crawl
Page 13 and 14: The trials and tribulations of our
Page 15 and 16: Adela reaumurella is one of the lon
Page 17 and 18: Gynnidomorpha alismana, Southern Wa
Page 19 and 20: in Telford considerations (in addit
Page 21 and 22: New online Worcestershire Moth Reco
Page 23 and 24: would also like to develop eco-tour
Page 25 and 26: Organisers of the Butterfly ID work
Page 27 and 28: Strawberry Banks Forever West Midla
Page 29 and 30: ackground, often with a ruler inclu
Page 31 and 32: The third day began locally at a dr
Page 33: Dates for your diary Prees Heath Co

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