anise swallowtail & purplish copper

[Neil Jones]

In article <oOVj6.4439$D3.22776 at tor-nn1.netcom.ca>
           don.benson at attcanada.net "Don Benson" writes:

I hate to sound like a wet blanket but butterfly introductions are not,
in general, very successful. I don't know of any North American research
but a study a few years ago in the UK showed that most species tend to fail
after a few years. 

> As part of a habitat enhancement project in Richmond BC, we are planning
> to introduce anise swallowtail and purplish copper butterflies to a 14
> hectare
> site.  We will plant larval foodplants for the anise swallowtail and then
> take
> caterpillars from Boundary Bay where these butterflies are common and put
> them on the larval foodplants.  To introduce the purplish coppers we plan to
> capture females and release them in the new site.

At least you are avoiding captive breeding which could result in subtle
detrimental changes quite quickly.

> We will plant cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum) and seaside angelica (Angelica
> lucida)
> for the anise swallowtail.

Hmm. You are introducing the foodplants as well. Are you sure the conditions
are right. Here in the UK we have developed a system called the  National
Vegetation Clasification (NVC) which documents the different plant communities. 
Plants that have similar ecological requirements grow together. 
You may care to look up any similar research on your side of the pond.
It may just be a matter of managment but you need to look at whether your
plants can survive as a long term component of the vegetation.

I sometimes use NVC classifications to help with butterfly surveying. 


  Laral foodplants for the purplish coppers are
> already present
> at the site.

If the foodplants are there you need to examine the reasons for the
butterfly's absence. Are the foodplants growing in the right places?
Are there enough of them?. How do you need to manage for them?
Also this species has a range of foodplants. Are the ones they are using
on the donor site the same as those on the receptor site? Butterflies can even be
adapted to local strains of plant.

> The 14 hecatare site called Terra Nova is located on the west
> side of Richmond,
> next to the dyke.
> 
> We are not very knowledgeable about butterflies and would appreaciate any
> suggestions
> or comments that might help us.

This is the place to ask.


> 
> Don Benson
> don.benson at attcanada.net
 
 

-- 
Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn Bog
National Nature Reserve


 
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