Scotland has 30 butterfly species to look out for. Some are easier to spot than others. In fact, some are so rare, we’ve had to bring in a secret weapon to help save them from extinction... Highland cattle!
What is conservation grazing?
Conservation grazing is the use of grass eating animals, like cows and sheep, to manage habitats for wildlife. Grazing plays an important role in improving and maintaining habitats for wild animals.
Highland cattle are perfect to help butterfly populations thrive. They like to eat lusher plant species which help smaller plants and flowers to grow.
1. Chequered Skipper
Scientists declared the Chequered Skipper extinct in England in 1976. Today, you’ll only find it in a few places near Fort William. With a combination of reintroduction in England, greater effort to find small, isolated colonies and targeted habitat management their numbers are slowly rising.
The cattle help to:
- thin vegetation by eating it
- trample on bracken to make way for the Chequered Skipper caterpillar’s preferred food, purple moor grass
Purple moor grass provides food and shelter for the caterpillars. As an adult butterfly, they also feed on nectar from other plants.
2. Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
These similar species are also in serious decline. Changes to woodland management are contributing to a drop in numbers. You can find these species in:
- woodland clearings
- rough hillsides in northern Scotland
Highland cattle are back trampling and grazing on the bracken to allow the caterpillars’ favourite food, the common dog violet, to reach the light.
Keeping track
We’re working with Butterfly Conservation to keep track of how many of these species are living on Scotland’s land.
