2007 Magazine Version 05.indd - Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire

The results of the surveys for 2005 and 2006 for the 19 species which regularly visit
Warwickshire gardens are shown in the table below:
Species
% Gardens recording presence of species
2002* 2003* 2004* 2005 2006
Most Widespread Species
Large White 100 96 89 90 83
Small White 83 88 77 84 87
Red Admiral 67 88 71 84 90
Small Tortoiseshell 79 100 86 84 77
Peacock 84 84 83 87 90
Less Widespread Species
Brimstone 75 68 69 84 83
Green-veined White 63 52 57 47 50
Orange-Tip 79 68 60 74 83
Common Blue 21 31 26 25 33
Holly Blue 92 60 57 71 77
Painted Lady 58 80 66 42 77
Comma 79 64 63 74 73
Speckled Wood 79 77 66 68 77
Gatekeeper 75 64 69 77 77
Meadow Brown 54 56 66 71 67
Least Widespread Species
Small Skipper 25 36 34 32 30
Large Skipper 22 21 9 19 23
Small Copper 13 28 37 19 30
Ringlet 25 24 31 32 27
* Data for 2002-2004 reproduced from last year’s magazine for comparison purposes
Every year there are recorders lucky enough to receive visits from rarer species. In
2006 five gardens had one or more visits from a Clouded Yellow, another migrant
to come with the southerly winds. Brown Argus, Essex Skipper,
Marbled White, Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary, Small
Heath and White Admiral were all seen in Warwickshire gardens
in both 2005 and 2006.
The forecast seems to be for an even hotter 2007, not good
news for butterflies if this is also accompanied by drought.
Gardens will then be very important nectar sources and we
should use every drop of waste water we can to keep our
plants healthy, especially buddleia, which needs regular
watering in order to produce ample nectar.
Photographs © Steven Cheshire 2007
Photograph © Debbie Hibbitt 2007
Margaret Vickery
Above: Small Copper
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Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire Branch Magazine 2007