One of the advantages of having a Scottish branch, based in Stirling, of the national body of “Butterfly Conservation” is that the important Highland element can be emphasised. Just as the branch brought out the leaflet entitled “Learn about Scotland’s common moths” they have also published “Butterflies of the Highlands – an identification guide”. One of the aims of the leaflet is stated on the front cover “We hope this leaflet will enable you to help record the Highlands’ important butterfly populations”. There are various ways in which you can record butterflies and one is to use the form in the back of the leaflet giving date, butterflies seen, number, place, Grid ref if known and your name and address. An alternative is to send the records direct to Butterfly Conservation in Stirling or to the Highland butterfly recorder who is David Barbour at 125a High Street, Aberlour AB38 9PB.
The records can be used to clarify changes in numbers and distribution of butterflies and some of the increases in range have been monitored in this way. The success stories of the Highlands in recent years has been the spread northwards of the orange tip, peacock, speckled wood and other species. However in the last few years the reverse has been true for what was one of Britain’s most widespread and common butterfly, the small tortoiseshell. Last year saw very few small tortoiseshells even in gardens where there was adequate food for both the adults in the form of nectar and food plants for the caterpillars, mainly stinging nettles. In some gardens in the Highlands none of these butterflies were showing at all despite the fact there were red admirals and good numbers of peacocks such as the one in the photograph. Apparently this was happening over large parts of Britain and now it seems more serious that anyone considered as there is the theory it could be parasites on the caterpillars.
The leaflet has photographs of all the 29 species of butterfly that occur in the Highlands. They are grouped together such as under “skippers”, “blues” and “whites”. An interesting innovation is the use of Gaelic names although it is pointed out that very few have Gaelic names. The Gaelic names given are translations of their English names. However it makes the point that the Gaelic name for butterfly is dealan-de which literally means fire of God. Butterflies were once held sacred and thought to be the angels of God that came to bear the souls of the dead to heaven. The leaflet includes a quick guide in chart form to the flight periods of the butterflies so that you get an idea what might be flying at any time of the year. Interestingly the only two that can be see all the year round as adults are the small tortoiseshell and peacock as they hibernate as adults. Only two or three years ago and the peacock would not have been there as it was only a summer vagrant to the Highlands. There is a map in the leaflet showing 11 of the best places to see butterflies in the Highlands such as Dunnet Bay in the north where small blues occur. To the west is Kinloch Forest on Skye whilst in the east is Ardersier Common near Fort George and to the south is Sunart Oakwoods. The more unusual butterflies are listed for each site.
The text is by Julie Stoneman and Tom Prescott and the Gaelic translation is by Ann Smart and various photographers were involved. The leaflet is free from Butterfly Conservation, Balallan House, 24 Allan Park, Stirling, FK8 2QG.