Duke of Burgundy

• Latin name: Hamearis lucina
• Family group: Fritillaries, Duke of Burgundy
• Countries: England
• Size: Small

Resident

Range declining.

This small butterfly frequents scrubby grassland and sunny woodland clearings, typically in very low numbers. The adults rarely visit flowers and most sightings are of the territorial males as they perch on a prominent leaf at the edge of scrub. The females are elusive and spend much of their time resting or flying low to the ground looking for suitable egg-laying sites.

The Duke of Burgundy is found in scattered colonies across southern England, with more isolated colonies in the southern Lake District and North Yorkshire.

It has declined substantially in recent decades, especially in woodlands where it is reduced to fewer than 20 sites.

Conservation status

• UK Biodiversity Action Plan:Priority Species
• European threat status: threatened
• Protected in Great Britain for sale only

European/world range

Widespread in Europe, from northern Spain to southern Sweden, and east as far as the Urals. Serious declines reported in at least ten European countries.

Foodplants

The main foodplants are Cowslip (Primula veris) and Primrose (P. vulgaris). It occasionally uses the so-called 'False Oxlip', the hybrid of these two Primula species.

Habitat

Two principal habitats are used: chalk or limestone grassland, with either extensive areas of scrub or topographical shelter; or clearings on ancient woodland sites, either regenerating coppice, young plantations, sizeable glades or wide rides.

In both habitats it requires foodplants growing among tussocky vegetation and on downland it prefers north- or west-facing slopes, possibly because the humid conditions encourage lusher growths of the foodplant.