 |
 |
 |
|
| UK Status |
|
|
|
| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
|
|
| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
|
|
| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
|
|
| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
|
|
| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Description
Once known as 'Mr Vernon’s Small Fritillary’ the Duke of Burgundy's dark brown upper side marked with vivid orange spots is distinctive and unlike any other butterfly of its size it is easily confused with the Burnet Companion moth... a day-flying moth which occurs at the same time of year and is very similar in size. It is on the wing from early May to mid June with a peak in numbers occurring in mid May with individuals living up to 5 day as adult butterflies. The larvae feed on the leaves of Cowslip and Primrose from late May, spending the winter months as a pupa hidden among leaf debris.
The female Duke of Burgundy stay hidden for much of the day but after mating may travel up to 5km in search of suitable habitat. This can only occur where suitable natural corridors along which they will move occur. Where this freedom of movement occurs, new colonies can become established. Unfortunately, modern agricultural practices has resulted in the species failure to create new colonies so as old colonies are lost, no new colonies are able to establish and replace the old colonies.
The adults rarely visit flowers. Territorial males are more commonly encountered as they perch on a prominent leaf at the edge of scrub. They usually occur in low numbers, even on the best sites.
The Duke of Burgundy is a Priority Species for conservation due to the continued loss of habitat and resulting drop in population.
Habitat
Historically a woodland clearing species Duke of Burgundy numbers decreased (reduced to fewer than 20 sites now present in woodland in the whole of the UK) as woods ceased to be managed and coppiced after World War I.
Chalk or Limestone grassland grazed during the autumn by Cattle is now the primary habitat where Cowslip grows in abundance and areas of light scrub for shelter occur.
In the Morecambe Bay area a different habitat is used. Limestone pavement which is un-grazed and has little grass cover supports these colonies.
Larval Food Plants
Eggs are laid on the underside of the larval foodplant Cowslip (Primula veris) or Primrose (Primula vulgaris) usually on a leaf which is in partial shade. |
|
|
| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 45 photographs of the Duke of Burgundy in the British Butterflies photo library |
|
BB1563 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_4394.JPG
|
 |
|
BB1562 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_4380.JPG
|
|
|
BB1561 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_4373.JPG
|
|
|
BB1560 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_4360.JPG
|
|
|
BB1559 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_4357.JPG
|
|
|
BB1558 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_4339.JPG
|
|
|
BB720 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_2403.JPG
|
|
|
BB719 - Duke of Burgundy
DSC_2402.JPG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution |
|
 |
In Britain the Duke of Burgundy is primarily confined to Southern England with small isolated colonies in Yorkshire and North Lancashire. The species has suffered a substantial decline in the number of colonies throughout the 20th Century and is one of the rarest butterflies in Britain.
The Duke has long suffered the effects of changes in our wild landscape. An example of its demise is illustrated by the survey of 126 sites in Wiltshire which were known to support the Duke of Burgundy in the 1980s. Of these 126 sites, only 23 were found to have any Dukes in 2006. |
|
 |
|
| Where to see the Duke of Burgundy |
Bedfordshire: Dunstable Downs, Totternhoe Old Quarry and Sewell Cutting
Buckinghamshire: Dancers End, College Lake, and Ivinghoe Beacon
Gloucestershire: Prestbury Hill, Rodborough Common
Oxfordshire: Aston Rowant NNR
Kent: Denge Wood, Bonsai Bank, The Warren, Crundale Downs
Hampshire: Noar Hill, Butser Hill - Rake Bottom
Somerset: Thurlbear Quarrylands
Wiltshire: Salisbury Plain
In the Morecambe Bay limestone area, there are less than 10 known colonies including:
Gait Barrows, Whitbarrow Scar |
|
| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Duke of Burgundy is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -58% |
(1976-2004) down by -28% |
|
|
1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
candidate priority species (link) |
|
|
| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 endangered4 |
|
|
3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Duke of Burgundy can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
|
|
|
|
Aberrations and Forms |
|
|
| We currently know of 5 named aberrant forms of the Duke of Burgundy. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. albomaculata - Blachier (1909) |
|
| ab. fulva - Osthelder (1925) |
|
| ab. gracilens - Derenne (1927) |
|
| ab. leucodes - Lambillion (1913) |
|
| ab. semibrunnea - Osthelder (1925) |
|
The following aberrant forms of the Duke of Burgundy have been photographed in the wild in Britain:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
|
|
|
|
29-34mm
