ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Regional Species - Large Heath</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="keywords" content="Large Heath, Coenonympha tullia"> <meta name="description" content="The Large Heath butterfly in North Wales"> <LINK REL="StyleSheet" HREF="../../branch.css" type="text/css"> <SCRIPT language="JavaScript"> <!-- if (parent.location.href == self.location.href) window.location.href = "../../index.html?species/large_heath/index.html"; // --> </SCRIPT> </head> <body class="background"> <a name="top"></a> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="../../images/dot.gif" border="0" width="1" height="1"></td> <td valign="top" class="content"> <blockquote> <SPAN class="page-title">Regional Species</SPAN> <br><br><br> <SPAN class="article-subtitle">Large Heath</SPAN><br><SPAN class="scientific-name">Coenonympha tullia</SPAN> <br><br> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="408"> <tr><td><img src="photo_1.jpg" width="400" height="296" alt=" Large Heath" border="2"></td></tr> <tr><td><h5>Photograph by Janet Graham (Denbigh Moors)</h5></td></tr> </table> </blockquote> </td> <td valign="top" class="content"> <!-- NAVIGATION ELEMENT - BACK TO SPECIES INDEX PAGE --> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><a href="../index.html" onFocus="this.blur();"><img src="../../images/right.gif" width="19" height="19" border="0"></a></td> <td class="links"><a href="../index.html">Regional Species</a></td> </tr> </table> <br clear="all"> <p>&nbsp;</p> <SPAN class="subtitle">About the Large Heath</SPAN> <p class="content">The Large Heath is a habitat specialist which can only be found in a few localities in North Wales. The species' requirement is for extensive areas of bog with Hare s-tail Cotton-grass (<i>Eriophorum vaginatum</i>), the larval foodplant and sources of nectar such as Cross-leaved Heath (<i>Erica tetralix</i>). Although both these plants occur widely throughout the hills of North Wales, and indeed the <i>Eriophorum</i> is an all too common indicator of heavy grazing, the butterflies are only found on large, more or less level areas of wet ground. One way to find such places is to look at the OS maps and pick out areas where the contours are widely spaced; these are the sites that are worth inspecting. Butterflies have been seen as high as 570m but may occur even higher. </p> <p class="content">Additional colonies have been discovered in recent years and old sites have been reconfirmed after long gaps with no records. However, there are still large areas that have not been explored recently and it is very likely that there are further colonies to be discovered. All records for this species are valuable and should be passed on to the appropriate County Recorder.</p> <p class="content">Threats to the species include drainage and land improvement, heather burning and sheep grazing. As already hinted at, Hare&#39;s-tail Cotton-grass is unpalatable to sheep so some sheep grazing can be tolerated and could even be beneficial in supressing other plants such as Heather (<em>Calluna vulgaris</em>). However, heavily stocked sheep are detrimental in removing all nectar sources and, unfortunately many otherwise suitable areas are affected in this way. The butterfly is generally thought to be sedentary although there are recent records of individuals having been seen, in unsuitable habitat, some miles from the nearest known colony so it is possible that these upland populations may experience some degree of genetic interchange. </p> <p class="content">Several races are recognised in Britain of which two occur in North Wales. Race <i>polydama</i> is the wide-ranging upland form whilst the more heavily spotted form known as <i>davus</i> is found on Fenn s Moss.</p> <p class="content">The butterfly flies from about mid-June to the end of July. Ova are laid on the <i>Eriophorum</i> and the resulting larvae overwinter in their second or third instar.</p> <p class="content">Confusion is possible with the similar looking Small Heath, which is often found flying alongside its larger relative. With experience the Large Heath can be distinguished by its darker appearance and characteristic manner of flying. To be certain which species is involved an examination of the underwing pattern will reveal the more numerous ocelli on the Large Heath.</p> <p class="content">&nbsp;</p> <p class="content">Further information available from the <a href="http://www.trawsgoed.com/nwleps.aspx?tp=but&Let=L" target="noframe"> NW Lepidoptera Database</a>, including access to detailed records, maps, flight-time charts and photographs.</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3" class="sidebar">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="../../images/top.gif" width="10" height="10" hspace="4" border="0"><a href="#top"><SPAN class="thispage">Top of pagets/copyright.js"></SCRIPT></h5></td></tr></table> </td></tr> </table> </body> </html>