The
SuffolkArgus
The Queen of Spain Fritillary at Minstnere RSPB Nature Reserve by CharlotteAnderson (AssistantRSPBWarden-Minsmere) Prior to 1995, only two accepted Suffolk records exist. Then, in August of that year, a singleton was identified on a warden's Buddleia davidii and another was sadly found, perfectly preserved, suspended in a pitfall trap. '95 being particularly good for migrants, we assumed this was a one-off episode and enjoyed the butterflies for what they were, not for what it might all mean. July 1996 saw another individual nectaring on buddleia and over the next six weeks, up to six were seen regularly on rhe same sheltered heathland area, their larval foodplant Viola arvensis nearby. This being well off the beaten track, the sire was temporarily opened up to allow for visitors. A pitfall trap again curiously produced a specimen. The plot thickened. The last confirmed sighting for char year was of two on 16 September.
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February 1999
There were six sigh rings at Minsmere during 1997 between late June and mid September. These were more scattered with no reliable sites. Viola Ssp. was sometimes noted nearby. This latest excuse for a summer has only produced one record, back on the heath.
Breeding or not breeding, that is the question The spate of records in 1996 tempted wardens to speculate that breeding was occurring on the reserve as Carlton Marshes was the only other eastern locality where they had been recorded. The butterflies were continuously noted over a period of 23 days with fresh specimens regularly coming on the scene. Why would migration from the continent concentrate so narrowly on this small stretch of coast? Of course, there was no tangible proof in 'evidence'.The combination of a suitable food plant and dates of occurrence were simply hard to dismiss. Eggs are laid on the plant, hatch in about a week and the caterpillar matures in a month. So the five week interval between the first July record and second in August tied in nicely with the theory of a second brood originating from one or more autumn brood adults as well as pupae can hibernate over winter. Could 1997 records be a mixture of surviving overwinterers, their offspring and migrants? One can only guess. Queen of Spain remains the only fritillary record ever for the reserve and we hope to renew its acquaintance in 1999, whether with true migrants or home-grown specimens as we, at Minsmere, would like to think.
Lengthy roosting of Holly Blue on Juniper tree byJean Garrod Steve Goddard's article on roosting Common Blue on page 14 ofvolumn 15 of the Suffolk Argus has prompted me to put pen to paper. It was a cold but bright day on Thursday April 17th 1997. Late morning Ken and I noticed a Holly Blue flying in our back garden. It came to rest, in the sun, at eye level on our juniper tree. It roosted there for the rest of the day and on opening the kitchen curtains the next morning I was amazed to see it in exactly the same position. It finally flew that morning as the sun reached it's roosting spot.
If thereare any memberswho have similar observationson roostingor otherhabitsplease send them to the editorsfor publication in the Suffolk Argus.jeans articleon Hornet predation of Small Tortoiseshell(page11, Vol. 9) wasalmost identical to that of Andrew Toomey(page18 vol.15) - Ed.
1998 Field Trips South Elmham Farm Walk Saturday, 4th July 1998 by Richard Stewart Seven members met for two walks around different parts of this series of paths, which includes meadows, old hedges with veteran pollarded trees, ponds, the remains of an ancient Bishop's palace and a farmhouse with a moat. Species recorded were: Large White, two ragged Common Blues, Large Skippers, Ringlets, 4 Red Admirals, Meadow Browns and clumps of Peacock caterpillars. Much to the delight of Tony Prichard the day-flying moth total exceeded the butterfly one, with records of Spinach, White Plume, Large Yellow Underwing, Yellow Shell, Culmella (Chrysoteuchia culmella), Thistle Ermine, Blood Vein, Lathoniellus (Crambus larhoniellus), Perlella (Crambus perlella) and Lucunana (Olethreutes lacunana).
Large Skipper by DouglasHammersley
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