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| Suffolk Branch | ||||
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Conservation Work The branch drafts species action plans for those moths and butterflies of conservation concern that can be found in Suffolk. These plans are used to direct moth and butterfly conservation work in the county. There are no Butterfly Conservation reserves in Suffolk but the branch views the whole of the county as its reserve and acts to promote conservation of butterflies wherever it may be needed. Recent work parties have helped improve the habitat at various sites for the Silver-studded Blue butterfly, one of Suffolk's more localised butterflies. Advice is provided on maintaining suitable habitats for butterflies and moths to landowners and agencies within the county.
Silver-studded Blue Translocation to Blaxhall Common
- 2012 Update
In 2007, the Suffolk Branch undertook an exciting project to
benefit one of
The purpose of the project was to create a new colony of
Silver-studded Blues on Blaxhall Common by relocating adult
butterflies from sites elsewhere on the Sandlings heaths.
Donor sites at Lower Hollesley
Common and Minsmere’s Sawmills colony each provided 30 adult
butterflies, and these were translocated to Blaxhall Common in June &
July of 2007. The
butterflies laid eggs and have now survived their first five winters.
A transect walk was undertaken by volunteers, and in the
summer of 2008, a dozen or so Silver-studded Blues were to be seen
enjoying their new habitat. Both
sexes remained on the wing for a month or so.
The 2009 monitoring proved that
wild pairings had occurred and the new colony was present in slightly
increased numbers. Numbers
increased in 2010, and in 2011 the transect walk achieved a record
index of 155, finding up to 45 adults on the wing over a 9 week period
from 2 Jun to 28 July.
The 2012 season has been another success at Blaxhall - in
the face of a generally awful year of disruptive weather.
This marks five seasons of
progressively rising numbers, flying for a longer flight period each
year, which is most encouraging. The
area of the common over which they are flying has also expanded
slightly.
Silver-studded Blues are only found on heathland and have
very specialised needs. They
prefer low-growing bell heather and their life-cycle depends on the
presence of a species of black ant that looks after the butterfly
during the early stages of its life. Blaxhall
Common does have healthy populations of the ants,
Lasius psammophilus, and
excellent heathland habitat which (to the human eye) appears ideal.
The passage of time suggests
that the butterflies are content with their new home.
The scheme is a
joint project between the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation and
Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who manage the site at Blaxhall.
It was made possible thanks to a grant from the Ecological Survey of
Selected Silver-studded
Blue Sites The full 34 page report is available in PDF format. There are two versions, one a low-resolution document the other a higher resolution document. You will need an appropriate PDF viewer or plugin to be able to read the documents. Low
resolution Silver-studded Blue 2009 Report (875KB) High resolution Silver-studded Blue 2009 Report (2250KB)
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