Call for Scots to spot tiny butterfly in bid to help safeguard its survival

Scots are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for the country's smallest resident butterfly while exercising outdoors during lockdown in a bid to help safeguard its survival.

The small blue has been declining in Scotland over recent years and is now mostly found on coastal sites in Moray, Caithness, Angus and Berwickshire where the particular food plants for its caterpillars grow.

Now conservationists are seeking volunteers to help them build a fuller picture of how the tiny insect is faring.

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This comes on the back of bad weather during last year’s brief flight season, which it is feared may have impacted this year’s butterfly numbers.

The rare small blue butterfly, the country's smallest, is mainly found at coastal sites in Moray, Caithness, Angus and BerwickshireThe rare small blue butterfly, the country's smallest, is mainly found at coastal sites in Moray, Caithness, Angus and Berwickshire
The rare small blue butterfly, the country's smallest, is mainly found at coastal sites in Moray, Caithness, Angus and Berwickshire

There is a particular interest in the state of populations in Angus, where the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership has been working with the charity Butterfly Conservation and volunteers for several years to monitor the species.

Some of the plans for 2020 have been put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, but people can still get involved if they take precautions.

“If the coast paths are already part of a daily exercise route we would ask you to look out for this elusive little butterfly and send in details of sightings and photos,” said Catherine Lloyd, from Tayside Biodiversity Partnership.

“However, please don’t travel to a site outwith your home patch – we must wait until 2021 for a more extensive survey.”

The small blue’s upper wings are dark grey with a very light dusting of blue scales and the undersides are pale grey with black spotsThe small blue’s upper wings are dark grey with a very light dusting of blue scales and the undersides are pale grey with black spots
The small blue’s upper wings are dark grey with a very light dusting of blue scales and the undersides are pale grey with black spots

Paul Kirkland, director of Butterfly Conservation Scotland, added: “It is such a rare butterfly that we still need to protect its remaining colonies and encourage the butterfly to spread back into its former territory.”

It might also be possible to undertake surveys of eggs or caterpillars at a later date if the easing of lockdown restrictions allows.

Unlike the more widespread common blue butterfly, the small blue’s upper wings are dark grey with a very light dusting of blue scales and the undersides are pale grey with black spots.

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The butterflies prefer warm sites that are sheltered from the wind, and are most often found in sand dunes and coastal grassland between late May and late June.

In Scotland the small blue’s caterpillars feed only on kidney vetch, which can be recognised by its bright yellow flowers that are covered in soft hairs.

Knowing exactly where the species is found helps conservationists to target on-the-ground efforts to reverse declines.

Volunteers are also being invited to sign up for online training this summer so they can take part in more rigorous surveys next year.

Work in Angus includes planting kidney vetch specially grown by a number of volunteers, including the group Food is Free Carnoustie.

Local seed for this has been provided by Brechin-based Scotia Seeds. Woodlands Primary School in Carnoustie continue to be the Angus school species champions for the butterfly and will be involved with planting at Carnoustie Golf Links, which will also be unveiling new display boards about the small blue later in the year

Further information on what you can do to help can be found on the Butterfly Conservation website- or the Tayside Biodiversity Facebook page.

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