The beginning of May has heralded confirmed sightings of Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) butterflies at Magog Down (also known simply as a Wall butterfly).
On the 6th May, Edward Pollard, the Cambridgeshire butterfly recorder, emailed to say: ‘In the last week we have had 3 records of Wall from the Down, all with photos. One from the picnic area, one from just next to that – those were on Friday and Saturday. And then another yesterday from the path between the paddocks and the arable field. The one yesterday was a female. The other photos are wings closed so can’t tell. There has been some indication of the species recovering in recent years, and they disperse in good weather. But don’t yet know is this is all one individual or if a few have found their way over. But keep an eye out, and fingers crossed the female has laid some eggs’.
The photo below was submitted to the website by Richard Berry (a regular visitor and keen butterfly photographer) who saw the butterfly in Youth Wood on Friday 1st May.
Andrew Knights (one of the regular butterfly recorders at Magog Down) remarked that it is very exciting because this species has not been recorded on the Down for many decades. He noted that the sighting is in line with others locally in the Cambridge area.
You can find further information on lifecycle, preferred habitats and food sources via the Butterfly Conservation website, which indicates that as a species the Wall has declined substantially in many inland areas over the last decade. Butterfly Conservation rate the conservation status of different butterflies and have assigned High Priority to the Wall. Their GB Red List (2022) classes the Wall as Endangered. It is described as a Section 41 species of principal importance under the NERC Act in England (widespread but rapidly declining).
Keep your eyes skimmed, as we would love to learn about more sightings of the Wall Brown as the spring and summer progress. You can submit photos directly to the website at https://www.magogtrust.org.uk/submit-photos/. You can also add posts to our Blue Sky Social (@magogdown.bsky.social) and X (@MagogDown) accounts. Alternatively, send an email to admin@magogtrust.org.uk.