Butterflies in danger UK butterflies are in serious decline and remain one of our most threatened wildlife groups; many butterfly feeding and breeding grounds have been destroyed through urbanisation, intensification of agriculture and increased use of pesticides. The 2010 European Union target to halt the loss of biodiversity has not been met for the UK’s butterflies; ten-year trends show that 72% of species declined in abundance at monitored sites and that the UK distributions of 54% of butterflies also declined. Three-quarters of species showed a 10-year decrease in either their distribution or population levels. The 56 species of butterfly in Britain and Ireland are also under threat from unprecedented environmental change; habitats have been destroyed and patterns of climate and weather are becoming increasingly unpredictable. Conserving butterflies will improve our whole environment for wildlife and enrich the lives of people now and in the future. Butterflies are beautiful insects and a joy to observe; the Old Course, with a cover of base rich calcareous dune grasslands, which support a rich and varied flora, and marginal scrub vegetation, provides a high quality habitat for butterflies, moths and a range of other essential pollinators. Royal Troon Golf Club Butterfly Audit 2014

A butterfly audit of the Old Course was conducted this summer by a volunteer from the Scottish Wildlife Trust to assess the current status of the site. In all some 11 different species of butterfly were identified with thriving populations of Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath and Dark Green Fritillary.

Butterfly Transect Field Record 30th June 2014

Sunny day, 19⁰C, light north westerly breeze 4-7mph (1.5-3.5 m/s)

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Butterfly Transect Field Record 23rd July 2014

Sunny day, 21⁰C, gentle westerly breeze 8-17mph (3.5-8.0m/s)

Butterfly Transect Field Record 24th August 2014

Cloudy day, 18⁰C, strong south easterly breeze 25-30 mph (11-14m/s)

Butterfly activity is closely related to ambient weather conditions as the above graphs show clearly; on the two sunny days over 200 butterflies were recorded on each visit, whereas, the dull, windy visit in August recorded only 8 in total.

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Small Blue Conservation Project

Royal Troon Golf Club has entered into a partnership with the Ayrshire Sustainability Group in the Irvine to Girvan conservation project to re-introduce the Small Blue butterfly, a seriously declining insect which is classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, to the Ayrshire coast; the project has been agreed with SNH and is supported by SWT, RSPB and STRI Ecology and Environment section.

The Small Blue (Cupido minimus) our smallest resident butterfly (20-30mm) is easily overlooked, partly because of its size and dusky colouring, but partly because it is often confined to small patches of sheltered grassland where its sole foodplant, Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) is found.

Although Kidney Vetch itself is not threatened, the habitats in which it grows are becoming fragmented and being lost at a rapid rate; the plant occurs sporadically throughout the ecological rough areas on the Old Course but several of the bare sandy areas exposed during the course development works of last winter (2013-14) have been seeded this autumn to increase the available habitat area. Kidney vetch is easily recognisable as a small cushion plant with clusters of small yellow flowers.

The Small Blue has already been re-introduced at Dundonald Links and further releases at Royal Troon and Turnberry are planned for next year.

“A golf course which has been sensitively designed and managed in a way which works with nature rather than against it is normally more interesting and challenging.” Colin Montgomerie

Acknowledgements

Butterfly Conservation Scotland http://butterfly-conservation.org/ SGEG Scottish Golf Environment Group www.sgeg.org.uk Bill Gray for his meticulous fieldwork research Gill Smart Scottish Wildlife Trust (Reserves Manager South West) Bob Taylor STRI (Senior Consultant Ecology & Environment) Amanda Dorans Dundonald Links Billy McLachlan Royal Troon Golf Club (Course Manager) Janice Warlow IT support

2nd October 2014 D L K Brown Secretary

Butterflies and moths occurring at Royal Troon Golf Club

Large White (Pieris brassicae) 63-70mm Our largest white butterfly and a strong flier, it is commonly seen in gardens where the caterpillars feed on cabbages etc. It is distinguishable from the Small White by its larger size, darker black wing tips extending further down the wing-edge and bolder spots. Flies June to September.

Small White (Pieris rapae) 38-57mm Caterpillars also feed on brassicas but cause less damage than the Large White. Can be confused with the similar Green-veined White but lacks the green veins on the underside of the wing. One of the first butterflies to be seen in spring and flies all summer.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) 32-35mm A widespread species found in a variety of habitats and adults can be seen from late April to late September; its caterpillars feed on Common and Sheep’s Sorrel and the butterfly can often be seen nectaring on Ragwort in the late summer.

Common Blue (Polyommatus Icarus) 29-36mm A widespread species found in a variety of grassy habitats almost anywhere that its caterpillar’s foodplant, Common Bird’s-foot trefoil occurs. The beautiful and brightly coloured males are very conspicuous and can be seen flying June-September.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 67-72mm A familiar butterfly that migrates to the UK every year from southern Europe and North Africa. Caterpillars feed on Common Nettle. Flies late May-November

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 64-70mm A migrant visitor, it can often be seen in areas with thistles which serve as both a foodplant for the caterpillars and a nectar source for the adults. Flies June-late October

Images and data courtesy of Butterfly Conservation Scotland http://butterfly-conservation.org/

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) 50-56mm Can be seen in most months of the year in almost any habitat and is one of the first butterflies to emerge in spring. Caterpillars feed on the young leaves of Common Nettle

Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) 63-69mm A large butterfly that feeds on dog violets as a caterpillar. It is a strong flier and has a green background to the underside of the hind wing. Flies from June-August

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) 50-55mm Can be found in a variety of flower rich grassland habitats where the caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses. Males tend to be darker than females but the amount of orange on both is variable Strong flier late June-early September

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) 48-52mm Favours tall, damp grassland where the caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses. It has a very dark velvety appearance with a white fringe to its wings; the ringlets on the under wings vary in number and size and can be virtually absent. Flies late June-August

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) 34-38mm An inconspicuous butterfly that tends to fly only in bright conditions and always keeps its wings closed at rest. Occurs mostly on grasslands where the sward is short and were there are fine leaved grasses upon which the caterpillars feed. Flies mid-May-August.

Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) 25-40mm Striking red and black colour means ‘predators beware’ as they are poisonous! Main caterpillar foodplant is Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil but adult flies with a usually slow buzzing flight during sunshine and is attracted to a range of flowers including thistles, knapweeds and scabious. Flies late June-August.