Rare Butterflies in Suffolk 1994

by Richard Stewart

Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antwpa)

Although 1994 will hardly be viewed as a vintage butterfly year, three records of rarities are of significance. The first concerns the Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa L.) seen by Ken Youngs, Chairman of the Botesdale and Rickinghall Countryside Preservation Group. He and his wife witnessed the butterfly on 21st August, in their back garden at Rickinghall Inferior at about 8 pm. It was observed for about four minutes as it alighted on their Czar plum tree. The attraction was the wasp damaged fruit left after picking the crop, though actual feeding was not observed. The full description included the word 'breathtaking'. The last record was near Manlesham Creek in 1993. Two observations concerned the Monarch or Milkweed (Danus plex.ippus L.). The Butterflies of Suffolk' (Mendel and Piotrowski) does not record this rare butterfly after 1946 except for a 'rumour' in 1981. The first sighting was on August 3rd, at Wolsey's Creek on the Blyth Estuary. A full description was provided by John Cawston, editor of 'The Harrier', who added that he had seen them previously in the Isles of Scilly. He and Eric Patrick witnessed it through binoculars at a distance of about twenty yards, describing the flight as 'foppy'. The second record was appended to the garden butterfly sheet sent in by Kevin Smith of Woodbridge. He also commented on the flight as being 'very buoyant' and 'flapping its wings very occasionally, mostly gliding'. The butterfly was seen when Kevin was contacted by Gary Milldown who lives in Peterhouse Crescent, where the butterfly was observed for fifteen minutes, flying around a buddleja bush. It alighted, bur not long enough for a photograph to be taken. Again, a full description was given. This second sighting was on August 21st, eighteen days after the first. Bearing in mind the earlier one was seen flying east, it is

unlikely that this was the same specimen, especially as Kevin Smith commented on its good condition, without tear or marking on the wings. This leads to the tantalising bur unanswerable question-where did they come from? Unfonunately, Wenhaston, the home of a self-confessed butterfly releaser is not far away, in terms of a Monarch's range, from both locations. The nearest bunerfly farm is at Great Yarmouth and the third possibility is the most exciting; that they were part of a migration either from the USA or the more recently established colonies in the Canary Islands and Madeira.

All records will obviously go to the Biological Records Centre and I have also contacted Nick Bowles, the co-ordinator of national records for Butterfly Conservation. As a final note, only two other verified records of Monarchs arose in 1994. One was in Somerset on September 2nd, and the second on September 11 th, in Sussex.

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