Welcome to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of
Butterfly Conservation
Butterfly Conservation was formed by a small group of dedicated
naturalists in 1968 following the alarming decline of many beautiful
butterflies. Most British butterfly species remain in decline.
We aim to halt and reverse these declines. Our vision is of a
world rich in butterflies for future generations to enjoy.
We are also committed to the conservation of moths, which are
close relatives of butterflies and are in rapid decline.
Butterflies and moths you can see now
With July’s arrival butterfly and
moth species numbers reach their peak in Hampshire
and the Isle of Wight. There have been over 50
butterfly species and over 1500 moth species
recorded in July in Hampshire and the Isle of
Wight. Listed below are selections of those that
can be seen this month. Most of the moths will only
be seen when attracted to light.
Garden Grass-veneer
Uncertain
Common Footman
Riband Wave
Large Yellow Underwing
Common Rustic
Water Veneer
Rustic
Bright-line Brown-eye
Smoky Wainscot
Silver Y
True Lover's Knot
Willow Beauty
Buff Ermine
Elephant Hawk-moth
Mother of Pearl
Diamond-back Moth
Buff Arches
Lackey
Peppered Moth
Scarce Footman
Riband Wave
Six-spot Burnet
Flame
Scalloped Oak
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
Marbled White
Ringlet
Small Skipper
Chalkhill Blue
Silver-washed Fritillary
Large White
Silver-studded Blue
Small Heath
Green-veined White
White Admiral
Dark Green Fritillary
Common Blue
Essex Skipper
Purple Hairstreak
Grayling
Holly Blue
Small Copper
Brown Argus
Clouded Yellow
Purple Emperor
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Wall
White-letter Hairstreak
Butterflies are beautiful and intrinsically valuable.
Together with moths, their sensitivity to environmental change
makes them valuable indicators of the health of the
countryside. We are dedicated to the conservation of:
Butterflies
Moths
Reserves
There are 46 species of butterfly occurring in Hampshire and the
Isle of Wight. Of these 35 can be seen on our reserves. More about our butterflies...
Around 1950 species of moth have been recorded in Hampshire and the Isle
of Wight. Over 600 of these on our reserves. More about our moths...
Butterfly Conservation has over 25 reserves across the UK,
including 3 in Hampshire, Yew Hill. Magdalen Hill Down and
Bentley Station Meadow. More about our reserves...
Disease-resistant Elm Cultivars - Trials Update Butterfly Conservation Trials Report 2010
The
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation (BC)
initiated trials of elm cultivars highly resistant to Dutch Elm
Disease (DED) in 2000. The trials are in fulfilment of
Objective 5 for the White-letter Hairstreak in BC’s South
Central Regional Action Plan: to evaluate their potential as
host plants for the butterfly, now a DEFRA UK Biodiversity
Action Plan ‘Priority’ species on account of its increasing
scarcity as a consequence of DED pandemic. The trials are
believed to be the most comprehensive of their kind in the
world. Mr Andrew Brookes has produced and updated report
on the trials covering 13 cultivars and providing details on
their development performance and suitabilty for growing in
various environments. The 2010 Trials Report is now available HERE...
Be part of the big butterfly count from the 24th July to the
1st of August this year and help us gather information to save
them. Just find a place where you might see butterflies, such
as a garden or park, and count the different butterflies you see
in just 15 minutes. You can make counts in several places during
the week. Submit your sightings at
www.bigbutterflycount.org and you'll receive 10 per cent
off plants when you shop online at M&S. * Butterflies are
disappearing fast and we can’t help them without your support.
NEW - Branch Member's Area
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch website now has an
exclusive Member's Area. It currently has past newsletters
available for download. Butterfly & Moth Reports will be
added soon. To access this area you will need to register
HERE... Once registered
you can access the Members Area from the menu above.
If you have any suggestions for additional information that
you would like to see on this members only page please send them
to
webmaster@hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk.
Suppliers of disease resistant elm cultivars can be
found
HERE...
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight branch of Butterfly
Conservation has released its 2010 Report on the Disease-resistant Elm
Cultivars Trials. It is available
HERE...
Lynn Fomison reviews Butterflies – Messages from Psyche by Philip
Howse HERE...
Andrew Brookes has provided a May 2010 list of suppliers of disease resistant
elm cultivars, see
HERE
for full details.