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Marsh Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2024

Week 10

“Ohh oh we’re half way there…” and fast approaching the Solstice too; a little light in the darkness of mid-winter.

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A few from the persistant population at Hutchinsons Bank, they are using Small Scabious, Field Scabious and Plantain as larval foodplants.

MrSp0ck wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2024 8:47 pm A few from the persistant population at Hutchinsons Bank, they are using Small Scabious, Field Scabious and Plantain as larval foodplants.

The use of a plantain by the Marsh Fritillary has never been recorded before, to the best of my knowledge. Are you sure it's not a web of Glanville Fritillary or Heath Fritillary or whatever other plantain-feeding species might have been introduced?

Cheers,

- Pete

Yes they were definately Marsh Larvae that merged into a Glanville Web, Plantain is listed as an alternative foodplant

"In Britain and Ireland the main larval foodplant of the Marsh Fritillary is Devil's-bit Scabious, Succisa pratensis, with various plantains (Plantago spp) also used occasionally. On mainland Europe a wider range of foodplants is used including the various knapweeds (Knautia spp)."

Shared Webs with Glanvilles will not happen on many other sites, and the larvaes temptation to group is very strong, sometimes nearby webs will merge in the spring in the sunning stage.

Hutchinsons Bank is a very warm site too, with temps upto 10 degrees warmer than the surrounding area when the sun is out, the banks face South West at an angle of about 30 degrees to 40 degrees in the cutting.

MrSp0ck wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 6:20 pm Yes they were definately Marsh Larvae that merged into a Glanville Web, Plantain is listed as an alternative foodplant

"In Britain and Ireland the main larval foodplant of the Marsh Fritillary is Devil's-bit Scabious, Succisa pratensis, with various plantains (Plantago spp) also used occasionally. On mainland Europe a wider range of foodplants is used including the various knapweeds (Knautia spp)."

Where is this quote from, Martin?

Thanks,

- Pete

I see that Peter May’s book lists it, but possibly only in captivity.

Cheers,

- Pete

Pete Eeles wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 6:39 pm

MrSp0ck wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 6:20 pm Yes they were definately Marsh Larvae that merged into a Glanville Web, Plantain is listed as an alternative foodplant

"In Britain and Ireland the main larval foodplant of the Marsh Fritillary is Devil's-bit Scabious, Succisa pratensis, with various plantains (Plantago spp) also used occasionally. On mainland Europe a wider range of foodplants is used including the various knapweeds (Knautia spp)."

Where is this quote from, Martin?

Thanks,

- Pete

Hi Pete, I've found several references to Marsh Frits using Plantains in some of my older books including Coleman 1901, Sanders 1939, Morris 1872. However they all also adhere to the mistaken belief that Silver-spotted Skippers use Legumes as a LHP so perhaps non should be taken as gospel

First Nature, Wildlife Insight, and i think its in Margaret Brooks book, although my copy is not to hand. The Marsh at Hutch do not like the Devil's Bit, and prefer other Scabious, Knapweeds and Plantains, larvae moved from the middle of the path and put on Devils Bit, wander stright off, back to the other foodplants.

HoneySuckle, used in the wild, and Snowberry and Teasle also listed. It seem to have the widest foodplant list of our 3 true Fritillaries, now all the others are Heliconids.

From what I understand, a wider variety of foodplants are used on the continent than in the UK...but with all those releases that have been going on, who knows where the stock have originated from.

My only session with this species in 2024 was at Prestbury Hill near Cheltenham, a population that also has dubious origins and I have heard good arguments for it being down to natural spread and also for a release. Either way it is now my nearest colony and Prestbury Hill is always worth a visit for many other species.
Cheers,

Neil

My first UK sightings were at Cotley Hill Wiltshire following the recommendation by Wurzel, thank you. Plenty about that day including a very fresh and obliging individual who allowed my favourite(s). Neil’s thoughts regarding the effect of provenance on larval food plants also occurred to me, who knows?

A few from a day trip to Lismore island off the west coast of Scotland on 31st May. This involved a short ferry trip with my bike to a small island with historical Marsh fritillary records, but little up to date knowledge of their occurrence.

Unfortunately the shock of a first bike ride of the year caused me to completely forget how to take photographs and I fluffed almost all the great opportunities this very scenic location provided. These shots were salvaged from a relatively substandard effort.

Hi Chris

Did you have to travel far on Lismore to see them? I normally take an annual daytrip to Port Appin to see them close to the jubilee bridge. Unfortunately couldn't make it in 2024.

Great photos.

Cheers

Bert.

Bertl wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2024 6:10 pm Did you have to travel far on Lismore to see them? I normally take an annual daytrip to Port Appin to see them close to the jubilee bridge. Unfortunately couldn't make it in 2024.

It was a fair bit of trekking around, mostly checking sites near the lochs. However I found a new site by the road not too far from the foot passenger ferry terminal at the north of the island - see the picture with the cottongrass. I estimate it was near Stronacroib. Wellies are recommended though!

Otherwise the main sites seem to be around the lochs at the other (south) end of the island.

Chris

ChrisStamp wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2024 4:55 pmA few from a day trip to Lismore island off the west coast of Scotland on 31st May. This involved a short ferry trip with my bike to a small island with historical Marsh fritillary records, but little up to date knowledge of their occurrence....

Great stuff, Chris. I never knew Marsh Frits were on Lismore (although I think fellow UKB member, Jack Harrison, reported them from Mull a few years back).

Lovely scenery. I worked in Oban for 6 months back in the nineties so this strikes a chord with me.

David M wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2024 7:44 pm
Lovely scenery. I worked in Oban for 6 months back in the nineties so this strikes a chord with me.

I don't get over to the west side often David, so it was a novelty for me. There is a lot of surveying needed over there and plenty of discoveries to be made so I will aim to visit there more often in future, west coast weather permitting of course!

Chris

ChrisStamp wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2024 9:05 pm...west coast weather permitting of course!

Indeed, Chris. Sunny, calm days were at a premium when I lived up there but it is a phenomenally beautiful part of the country, maybe the finest.

ChrisStamp wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2024 7:08 pm

Bertl wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2024 6:10 pm Did you have to travel far on Lismore to see them? I normally take an annual daytrip to Port Appin to see them close to the jubilee bridge. Unfortunately couldn't make it in 2024.

It was a fair bit of trekking around, mostly checking sites near the lochs. However I found a new site by the road not too far from the foot passenger ferry terminal at the north of the island - see the picture with the cottongrass. I estimate it was near Stronacroib. Wellies are recommended though!

Otherwise the main sites seem to be around the lochs at the other (south) end of the island.

Chris

Thanks Chris. Hopefully a wee trip out to Lismore on the people ferry in May 2025.