Features
and Review
Rare Small Blue found
at second site in Torbay
A
small colony of the rare Small Blue butterfly has been discovered
populating a new site in Torbay, in an area where Small Blue
larvae were introduced onto their sole food and breeding plant,
Kidney vetch, by local conservation charity Torbay Coast &
Countryside Trust.
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photo by Trust Ranger
Stuart Murdoch |
This small colony
is now the second known in Torbay. In 1999 a thriving colony
was found at a nearby site, and the Trust later relocated Small
Blue larvae to the second site in the hope that the rare butterfly
would recolonise here as part of their ‘Save the Small Blue' project.
The larvae live only in the flower heads of Kidney vetch which
grow in delicate limestone grasslands – such as those found in
Torbay.
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Repeated
visits to the second site by member of Butterfly Conservation
Bill Deakins, and rangers from Torbay Coast & Countryside
Trust, have determined that at least three Small Blue butterfly
are now colonising in this second area of the Bay, where Kidney
vetch is also flourishing well.
The Small Blue is the UK's smallest
resident butterfly and in severe decline due to loss of secluded
habitat. It exists mainly in isolated small colonies, in
sheltered, sunny spots and is extremely rare in Devon. Torbay
Coast & Countryside Trust's ‘Loving Our Limestone' project
helps to reduce scrub cover on our delicate limestone grasslands
where many habitats are located on hard to reach cliff faces.
The plants have come under threat from invasive scrub and foreign
trees which suffocate these vital habitats for rare species such
as the Small Blue.
The Small Blue Butterfly is considered an indicator species for
the health of limestone grassland - which in Torbay supports a
large number of nationally rare and scarce flowering plants such
as the White rock-rose and the Bee orchid. For more information
about the Trust's Loving our Limestone project visit www.countryside-trust.org.uk
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Features
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