Habitats and abundance of butterflies on agricultural land at Writtle College
Table 9. Total sun hours for the survey period
In conclusion the distribution and occurrence of all 24 species on the College estate has been deduced
from the five years monitoring (Table 10) and shows only five species to be widespread and common.
Five species could be considered as rarities and these include A. hyperantus, Coenonympha pamphilus
and L. megera.
Table 10. Species distribution and occurrence over the monitoring period
Species
Aglais urticae
Inachis io
Polygonia c-album
Vanessa atalanta
Vanessa cardui
Aphantopus hyperantus
Coenonympha pamphilus
Lasiommata megera
Mania la jurtina
Pararge aegeria
Pyronia tithonus
Anthocharis cardamines
Colias croceus
Gonepteryx rhamni
Pieris brassicae
Pieris napi
Pieris rapae
Aricia agestis
Celastrina argiolus
Lycaena phlaeas
Ochlodes venata
Polyommatus icarus
Thymelicus lineola
Thymelicus sylvestris
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Comma
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Ringlet
Small Heath
Wall Brown
Meadow Brown
Speckled Wood
Gatekeeper
Orange Tip
Clouded Yellow
Brimstone
Large White
Green-veined White
Small White
Brown Argus
Holly Blue
Small Copper
Large Skipper
Common Blue
Essex Skipper
Small Skipper
Distribution and occurrence
Widespread, declining in numbers
Widespread, increasingly common
Fairly widespread, not common
Widespread, not common
Very numerous immigrant in some years
Rare, not recorded for several years
Rare, declining in abundance
Rare, not recorded for several years
Widespread and common
Widespread, increasing in numbers
Widespread and common
Widespread but not common
Occasional immigrant
Not very widespread and not common
Widespread and common
Widespread and common
Widespread and common
Rare, present in very small numbers
Fairly widespread but uncommon
Rare, not recorded for two years *
Widespread but declining in abundance
Fairly widespread but not common
Widespread, declining in numbers**
Widespread, declining in numbers**
* seen outside of survey in 2000
** status identified in other research
136
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)