Dr Dr Brian NelsonBrian Nelson

Research BranchResearch Branch

National Parks & Wildlife ServiceNational Parks & Wildlife Service

Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local GovernmentDepartment of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government

7 Ely Place, Dublin 2.7 Ely Place, Dublin 2.

E-mail: E-mail: brian.nelson@environ.ie

Tel: Tel: 01-88832901-88832944

Web: Web: www.npws.iewww.npws.ie

www.environ.iewww.environ.ie

Marsh Fritillary survey and Marsh Fritillary survey and monitoringmonitoring

Lifecycle and ecology of the

species

Habitat

Irish status and distribution

Why, when and what to monitor

OutlineOutline

Marsh FritillaryMarsh Fritillary

Lifecycle and EcologyLifecycle and Ecology

LifecycleLifecycle

LifecycleLifecycle

Adults - end of May and June Eggs laid within 1-2 days in single large batch. Foodplant Succisa pratensisLarvae hatch 2-3 weeks laterFeed communally until 3rd instar then hibernate. Resume feeding early spring. Larvae disperse and pupate end of April

HabitatsHabitats

Damp neutral or acid grassland with Blue moor grass Molinia caeruleaCalcareous grasslandDune heathsConditions met on edges of bogs and fens, sand dunes, limestone pavement, tracksidesNOT on improved grassland, intact bogs, deeply flooded sites, woodland

Vegetation & managementVegetation & management

In Wales M24 Molinia - Cirsium dissectum. Most sites grazed or burntIn Scotland acidophilous Molinia mires. Most sites lightly grazedIn Northern Ireland unmanaged, or extensive grazing with cattleRest of Ireland ???

Foodplant - Devil’s-bit Scabious Foodplant - Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa Succisa pratensispratensis

Abandoned/degraded bogAbandoned/degraded bogLullymore Co KildareLullymore Co Kildare

Abandoned/degraded bogAbandoned/degraded bogMannin/Island Lake, Co MayoMannin/Island Lake, Co Mayo

Calcareous grasslandCalcareous grasslandClooncoose, Co ClareClooncoose, Co Clare

Calcareous grasslandCalcareous grasslandClooncoose, Co ClareClooncoose, Co Clare

Calcareous grasslandCalcareous grasslandParknabinnia, Co ClareParknabinnia, Co Clare

Damp grassland/machairDamp grassland/machairSheskinmore, Co DonegalSheskinmore, Co Donegal

Grazing managementGrazing management

How does Marsh Fritillary occupy a site?

MetapopulationMetapopulation

Always occupied

Never occupied

Occupied 75% of time

Fermanagh – green all sites Fermanagh – green all sites with records; red with records; red

Monitoring Marsh FritillaryMonitoring Marsh Fritillary

Adult short lifecycle and are not mobile. Transects not suitableWebs highly visible, static and directly related to the habitatMonitor in SeptemberRecording can be done in spring to confirm site – also adult surveysSearch patches of scabious for 5 minutes to detect presence

Appearance of the webs – two typical webs in Appearance of the webs – two typical webs in short vegetation. Note the colour and short vegetation. Note the colour and

amorphous shapeamorphous shape

A web in taller vegetation, Sheskinmore Co A web in taller vegetation, Sheskinmore Co Donegal, incorporating dead leaves of the Donegal, incorporating dead leaves of the foodplantfoodplant

Marsh Fritillary web Parknabinnia, Co Clare, Sept Marsh Fritillary web Parknabinnia, Co Clare, Sept 2010. Probably a hibernation web. Note the tight form 2010. Probably a hibernation web. Note the tight form of the web and position (not on Devil’s bit Scabious)of the web and position (not on Devil’s bit Scabious)

Marsh Fritillary webs showing brown colour Marsh Fritillary webs showing brown colour and dirty appearance due to presence of and dirty appearance due to presence of frass and dead leavesfrass and dead leaves

Irish distribution Irish distribution

Vulnerable A2cAnnex II Habitats Directive

Monitoring Marsh FritillaryMonitoring Marsh FritillaryWeb countsWeb counts

Habitat assessmentHabitat assessment

Height of vegetationHeight of vegetation

Aughnadarragh Lough

Derryleckagh

Ballykilbeg0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0-1010-20

20-3030-40

40-5050-60Vegetation Height (cm)

Acknowledgments: Eugenie Regan (NBDC), ButterflyIreland, Caroline Bulman (Butterfly Conservation), Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Jesmond Harding.