Expanding the Large Blue Landscape in the Polden Hills

The Large Blue butterfly is reliant on a particular red ant, Myrmica sabuleti. Young caterpillars feed on Wild Thyme flowers before the ants carry them underground into their nest. The caterpillars feed on ant-grubs before pupating and emerging above ground as butterflies.

Changes in grazing towards the end of the 19th century caused a huge decline in Large Blue butterflies, resulting in their extinction in 1979. The re-introduction of this species has been one of the worlds most successful conservation programmes.

The Large Blue remains one of the world's most threatened species and is classified as endangered in Europe, due to its continued rapid decline.

The Poldens are a stronghold but to secure its future the butterfly must establish new colonies. A steady increase in population is necessary to provide a buffer against accidental habitat loss or damage, variations in weather and the adverse impact of climate change.

Project Objectives:

• To restore suitable habitat on currently unoccupied sites to the west of the main Poldens Ridge, where the butterfly was known to support large populations in the early 1800s
• To restore further habitat on occupied sites where the populations are not believed to be self-sustaining
• To restore further habitat on sites with the greatest potential to act as source populations for colonisation of unoccupied sites

Activities to include:

• Thyme propagation by local nurseries for planting on sites to be restored and improved
• Habitat assessments to guide the land restoration and management
• Monitoring of the habitat condition and Large Blue populations in response to restoration and management of sites
• Support and train local groups and volunteers to assist with conservation management and monitoring.

Contact

Caroline Kelly

ckelly@butterfly-conservation.org

T: 01929 406028

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