Habitats and abundance of butterflies on agricultural land at Writtle College
However, increases in abundance were displayed by Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria and
Peacock Inachis io (Figure 3).
Fig. 3. Numbers of individuals per visit for P. aegeria and I. io
The main habitats for P. aegeria on the College Transect were the predominantly wooded sections
(Table 4) in which numbers increased over the five years (Sections 1 and 4). P. aegeria was also
recorded in less abundance in sections containing hedgerows, and appears to be becoming
increasingly common in this habitat.
Table 4. Numbers of P. aegeria per 100 metres on the College Transect
Thymelicus species prefer the grassy areas of the College Transect attaining greatest abundance in
the meadows of Sections 2, 5 and 8 (Table 5). However, declines in abundance are evident in most
sections of the transect, being especially severe in meadow habitats (Sections 2, 5 and 8).
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001) 133