A rare and beautiful blue butterfly has made a comeback on a small patch of heathland in South Devon after years of no sightings, Butterfly Conservation can reveal.
The Silver-studded Blue died out on Bovey Heathfield in Newton Abbot around 1999, but in recent years has been spotted again in small numbers and is now thought to be breeding at the site.
This attractive and small butterfly is in serious decline and has become a great rarity in most regions of Britain, with many colonies lost over the last century. The destruction of heaths and the shading out of the sunny habitats it prefers have played a major part in this. Further north this has meant some populations have been lost entirely, confining it largely to southern England.
Butterfly Conservation’s Devon Branch has been working hard to maintain the right habitat for this stunning butterfly at Bovey Heathfield and this weekend are holding a free and open event to continue preparing the area for summer.
Pete Hurst writes the newsletter for the Branch and has spent many years volunteering at the site. He said: “It was very sad when the butterfly died out at Bovey Heathfield, but for years we continued working to maintain its habitat in the hope they might return. To see them here again is a very satisfying feeling and it’s crucial we keep the land in good condition to ensure their future.”
New volunteers are needed to help Butterfly Conservation Devon clear overgrown scrub and rake up the vegetation cut back during winter to help maintain the conditions favoured by this butterfly and the many others found at the site, like the stunning Green Hairstreak.
Pete said: “Most work party events start at 10.30am and all tools are provided, all you need to bring is a packed lunch. If it is a mild day, we may even see the odd butterfly as we work and the heathland is also home to birds like the Dartford Warbler and Stonechat. It’s a br
illiant opportunity to get the whole family out and to make sure this rare butterfly has a home in Devon.”
If habitat management at Bovey Heathfield is successful this year, the Silver-studded Blue can be seen flying from late June through until mid-August. The male can be distinguished from similar species like the Common Blue by the thicker black margins on its upper wings and the black marginal spots on the underwing. These are studded with silvery-blue centres and it is these metallic ‘studs’ that lend the butterfly its name.
The Silver-studded Blue also has a close relationship with ants, which attend to the caterpillars, licking their sugar-rich secretions in return. When it turns into a chrysalis, the ants will bury it underground or take it into their nest, caring for it and protecting it from any predators until the butterfly emerges.
If you would like to help ensure this beautiful butterfly’s future, please visit the Branch EVENTS page.
Bovey Heathfield on the Heathfield Industrial Estate in Newton Abbot is mostly owned by the Devon Wildlife Trust, but on the edge of the larger site, just over an acre of land is owned by Teignbridge District Council and leased to Butterfly Conservation’s Devon Branch.
The reserve is an important component of the Bovey Basin heaths and is home to many threatened species of birds, butterflies and insects. It has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1989.