Description
small and orange and brown, like a tiny fritillary. undersides of hind wings have rows of white spots. lives in small colonies on grassland or woodland clearings. this small butterfly frequents scrubby grassland and sunny woodland clearings, typically in very low numbers. the adults rarely visit flowers and most sightings are of the territorial males as they perch on a prominent leaf at the edge of scrub. the females are elusive and spend much of their time resting or flying low to the ground looking for suitable egg-laying sites. eggs are laid in small batches underneath the leaves of primrose (primula vulgaris) and cowslip (p. veris) plants. they take seven to 21 days to hatch depending on weather conditions. caterpillars stay hidden during the day, emerging to feed on leaves at dusk. even after six weeks of feeding, they remain smaller than 2cm long. conditions during this stage are critical to their survival, with summer droughts posing a huge threat. caterpillars will leave the foodplant to pupate in grass tussocks. this species overwinters as a chrysalis until the following spring. the duke of burgundy is found in england only with a stronghold in central-southern areas and more isolated colonies in the southern lake district and the north york moors. it has declined substantially in recent decades, especially in woodlands where it is reduced to fewer than 20 sites.
Habitat
The butterfly can be found on two main habitats; chalk and limestone grassland with plenty of shelter from scrub or slopes or clearings on ancient woodland sites.
Countries
Countries: England.
Wing span range
0mm
