Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY (BOLORIA SELENE)

LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated HAPs

Fens

Ecology

Appearance
Despite its name, the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, at 36-42mm, it is actually very similar in size and behaviour to the Pearl-bordered Fritillary. The easiest way to distinguish these two is by looking at the undersides of their wings. Both species have a 'string' of 7 white 'pearls' running along the edge of the hindwing however, the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary has many more additional 'pearls' on the underside oft the hindwing whereas the Pearl-bordered Fritillary has only two additional 'pearls.' The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary has also got a greater variety of brown colours on its underside than the Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Habitat
This species occurs in damper, grassy habitats as well as woodland clearings, open wood-pasture and moorland.

Food
The main food plants are bramble, thistles and the larval food plants common dog-violet and marsh violet.

Life Style
A single brood is produced per year with eggs being laid singly on the foodplants or on dead matter in close proximity to the foodplant.
The larvae hibernate towards the end of August and emerge the following spring to complete their development.

Pupation occurs in May and the adults usually emerge 10days later.

Current Status

The population of small pearl-bordered fritillary is now confined to a single site in the Cheshire region at Bagmere SSSI near Congleton.

The species is dependent upon areas of damp woodland edge and occasionally bracken, which have bare ground containing marsh violet, which is the preferred food-plant of the caterpillar. Favoured areas tend to be wet flushes.

The small pearl-bordered fritillary was added to the UKBAP priority list in 2007.

Threats

* Loss of suitable habitat through invasion of scrub.
* Unsuitably of adjacent sites for recolonisation naturally.
* Inappropriate woodland management.
* The spraying out of bracken, resulting in loss of suitable habitat.

How are we helping to conserve the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the Cheshire region?

* Continued monitoring of the population at Bagmere, and search for potential additional sites in the same geographical area.
* Ongoing monitoring at key sites.
* Bagmere SSSI ongoing clearance of scrub.

Objectives, Targets and Actions

Objectives, targets and actions to help conserve the small pearl-bordered fritillary in the Cheshire region can be found on the Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) along with full details of our progress so far.

How to find out more about the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Vale Royal Borough Council Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Species Recording card
UK Butterflies website - http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?vernacular_name=Small%20Pearl-bordered%20Fritillary
Butterfly Conservation species data pdf

Contact details

LBAP Chair
Cheshire Wildlife Trust 01948 820 728

References & Glossary
Bourne, N. Kirkland, P. & Warren, M. (1996): Action for Butterflies - Butterfly Conservation's Guidelines for producing Regional Action Plans. British Butterfly Conservation Society, Wareham.
Guest J (1997): pers comm.
Hill PM (1998): Action for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in Cheshire
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report. Volume I: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report. Volume 2: Action Plans, London
Rutherford CI (1983); Butterflies of Cheshire 1961 - 1982. The Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society
Shaw B (1999): The Butterflies of Cheshire National Museums and Galleries of Merseyside, Liverpool

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Boloria_selene/more_info.html

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?vernacular_name=Small%20Pearl-bordered%20Fritillary

http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/species/fritillaries/uk4.htm