Back to Sussex Butterfly Report 2004 Index

Sussex Butterfly Report 2004 : the fritillaries

The Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary remains absent from West Sussex and in East Sussex the Jarvis Brook colony was not recorded this year. All 21 recordings were made in June in the Woods at Laughton Common, Moat, Vert and Lower Vert and at Park Corner Heath.

There were 32 recordings of the Pearl Bordered Fritillary in 2004. Apart from Peter Farrant’s record of 5 individuals on April 26^th, all other sightings were made in May. In this respect the season was far briefer than in 2003 when they began emerging in mid-April. Margaret Hibbard found that the colony at Verdley Wood is still extant.

The Dark Green Fritillary was only found along the Downs. It flew from mid-June to mid-August. It was noted in only 7 more squares than in 2003 but seen 89 times – more than twice as frequently as the previous year.

The Silver Washed Fritillary was widely recorded in both Counties. It was seen in 36 new squares and on 230 occasions - 148 times more than the previous year. Its flight period was from late June until mid-August.