Butterfly Conservation - Sussex Branch

Sussex Butterfly Report 2005

Bill Taylor

Butterfly Conservation Sussex Branch

Introduction

Resolved on the basis of 10 km squares, Sussex recorders visited the entire county during 2005 (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Intensity of species recording in Sussex based on visits to 10 km squares

The abundance key for these records is shown in this box.

Taking the same data at a 2km-square resolution, of the possible 1250 squares within the county only 334 were visited. Nevertheless a massive 16,594 records were generated by members and non-members. At this finer resolution the county-wide distribution of all records for all species is shown in Figure 2 and points both the intensity with which we record along the Downs and the gaps in the distribution of our recording, most particularly in West Sussex south of the Downs and more generally across large tracts of East Sussex.

Figure 2. Intensity of species recording in Sussex based on visits to 2 km squares

In the records of the individual species shown on the following pages, using “Levana” to display the data, I have compared the records for 2005 with those of the previous five years. In theory this allows recorders to observe any expansions or contractions in species distribution but in reality the “lost” squares shown on the maps are squares visited and recorded from, in the period 2000 to 2004, but not in 2005. It is also possible to look at the seasonal calendar for each species and again, the report includes the calendar for each year from 2000 to 2005. In interpreting this calendar there is no absolute numerical scale to work with. Rather, as numbers increase, so too does the intensity and richness of the colour.

Anyway, feedback from experts who know more about these things that I do will be very welcome. If you enjoy having your data presented in this fashion please say so and I will follow this pattern in the coming years.

Transects

This is one of the most thorough methods of recording, where a set route is walked weekly between 1st April and the end of September each year. This enables butterfly trends to be established and the habitat changes to be assessed against possible management. In 2005 some 31 transects were undertaken and the Branch is very grateful to all those transect walkers who took part. Whilst a transect is time consuming it also a great way of seeing the emerging butterflies during the flight season.

The map (Figure 3), with grateful thanks to the Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre for its preparation, shows the approximate locations of the transects recorded in the two counties during 2005.

Please contact Roy Neeve if you are thinking of walking a new transect in 2006; as you can see we are not covering large parts of the western and eastern ends of our county0. Moreover, we are always looking for folk to undertake holiday cover for existing transects and again, if interested, please contact Roy Neeve.

Figure 3. The location of recording transects throughout Sussex

Click here for Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Large Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper

Click here for Wood White, Clouded Yellow, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip

Click here for Green Hairstreak, Brown Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak

Click here for Small Copper, Small Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue, Holly Blue, Duke of Burgundy

Click here for White Admiral, Purple Emperor, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma

Click here for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary

Click here for Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath

The full list of people who sent in records is available to Butterfly Conservation members only.