Roundup and Boloria euphrosyne

[Nick Greatorex-Davies]

I don't have many details, but there is at least one incidence in the
UK where Roundup was used to control "weeds" around young trees in a
forestry plantation in southern England. Violets (Viola riviniana /
reichenbachiana) germinated and grew in profusion in the resulting
bare soil. These patches of Viola became the main breeding areas for a
short time for the resident population of Pearl-bordered Fritillary -
Boloria euphrosyne. Boloria euphrosyne in endangered in the UK. I am
not advocating the use of Roundup to help preserve endangered
butterflies (unless very carefully thought through perhaps) but it is
an interesting observation nevertheless.

Nick Greatorex-Davies


Mr J Nick Greatorex-Davies
(Butterfly Monitoring Scheme co-ordinator)
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Monks Wood
Abbots Ripton
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE28 2LS  UK

Tel: (+44) (0) 1487 773 381
Fax: (+44) (0) 1487 773 467
E-mail: ngd at ceh.ac.uk