Distribution updates

[Pete Eeles]

Nobody is going to notice unless I post ... so just to let you know that BC has generously (thanks Richard Fox!) provided the distribution of all species, now updated to cover 2000-2009. This is input to a new BC project (IT-related) that will see its fruition in 2016 (watch this space!). In particular, as far as UKB is concerned, a distribution for the Large Tortoiseshell is now available, which I found particularly interesting:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/distribu ... stribution

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

I'm actually quite shocked by that.

Has there really been a Large Tortoiseshell sighting on the Gower peninsula?

[Pete Eeles]

Yep - in SS49.

That's all I know!

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

It'd be interesting to know more.

I can't help but think these must be mis-identifications.

[Pete Eeles]

The county recorder would / should know. I assume they're involved in this type of rare beasty.

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugboy]

Wow, those extinct species do get about a bit don't they!

[Matsukaze]

The Large Tortoiseshell distribution seems to be pretty much par for the course for our rare immigrant Lepidoptera. It compares nicely with the distribution of some of our scarce immigrant/possibly resident moths, with a concentration on the south coast and a scattering getting a long way north.

Large Tortoiseshell:

http://ukbutterflies.co.uk/distribution ... olychloros

The Cosmopolitan:

http://mothscount.org/maps/94/NBN_Maps. ... 0000006301

Dewick's Plusia:

http://mothscount.org/maps/94/NBN_Maps. ... 0000006541

The Delicate:

http://mothscount.org/maps/94/NBN_Maps. ... 0000503317

[Jack Harrison]

Could any of the Large Tortoiseshell reports in recent years in fact have been Scarce Tortoiseshell?

After all, many of us on ukb might struggle to tell the difference so Joe Public might easily be mistaken.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

I've just looked at the Sussex Branch guide to i/d Scarce and Large Tortoiseshells:

http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.html

Now one the ukb page Scarce Tortoiseshell: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species. ... anthomelas

the female illustrated (photos Perry Fairman) might be a better match for Large Tortoiseshell not Scarce (the paler patches adjacent to dark splodges).

I am even more confused.

Jack