Holly Blue in October!

Andrew Daw andrewd at redac.co.uk
Fri Oct 10 09:16:14 EDT 1997


The parasites of the Holly Blue appear to travel across the country in a
wave taking about a year to cover the whole country (according to the way
the records went with the last boom-bust cycle).  Last year in the West Country
(and the East Midlands) the Holy Blue was only just starting to recover from
the last dip in numbers, whereas in the South East I gather they were already
peaking in numbers.
 When the population last crashed in the East Midlands (about 4 years ago from
recollection ?) there were still records from the North (Spurn Head I think)
where they were seen in large numbers.

 I have heard rumours that the Holly Blue has suffered from high predation in
the second brood in Gloucestershire, so we may have a low number of Holly
Blues next spring.

I have also heard the theory that the Holly Blue survives the parasite attacks
better in the centre of populous cities as the Wasps are reluctant to enter
the hot dusty areas.  So after the wave of parasitism has passed the Holly Blue
can then spread out again into the surrounding countryside  (any thoughts ?).


Andrew
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> I'm interested in the discussion on Holly Blues (Celastrina argiolus) as
> around me in Hertfordshire this year their numbers have been very low and=
> 
> lower in the second than the first brood (on a transect,  well provided
> with holly and ivy, which I walk   4 and 0  (cf 1996 when numbers were24
> and 62.   Last year in Hertfordshire was an excellent year and indeed I s=
> aw
> an individual on 19 October 1996, suggesting a third brood.  Yet they wer=
> e
> common in Cornwall when I was there in July.
> 
> I am intrigued by the geographical difference that seems to exist in the
> populations of what I have always thought of as an evenly distributed but=
> 
> cyclical species. Can anyone comment on this, or have I just been unlucky=
> ?
> 
> Andrew
> 
> Andrew Wood
> Bengeo
> Herts
> UK
> 


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