and of the Scottish uplands

Butterfly Conservation is a UK charity of 12,500 members, over 600 of whom live in Scotland.

In Scotland, Conservation advises landowners on habitat management for butterflies and moths; collaborates with others on landscape-scale nature conservation projects; carries out surveys and monitoring on our most threatened species; trains volunteers to enable them to take action for butterflies and moths; makes recommendations to the Scottish Government on its environmental policies; and encourages everyone to cherish their butterflies and moths - in their gardens, parks, crofts, farms and businesses.

You can join online at www.butterfly-conservation.org

This leaflet was part-funded by the Cairngorms National Park Authority Community Investment programme.

Butte rfly Conservation Scotland Balallan House 24 Allan Park Stirling FK8 2QG Tel: 01786 447753 Email: scotland @butterfly-conservation.org www.butte rfly-conservation.org This leaflet describes some of Photographs by: Julie Stoneman, Uwe Stoneman, Roy Leverton, our beautiful and fascinating upland Will Boyd-Wallis, Mark Parsons, Richard Sutcliffe, Paul Kirkland, and montane moths and butterflies, Yvonne Malcolm, Paul Pugh and Ken Wilmott. Text by Yvonne Malcolm. and the special habitats and landscapes they occupy. Butterfly Conservation Company limited by guarantee, registered in (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)

Designed by cell creative 01942 681648. Printed on 100% recycled paper made from post-consumer waste Upland Moors Montane Zone

We can divide Scotland’s high ground into two zones; high ground or uplands - land above The Cairngorms National Park enclosed farmland, and the montane zone - land Almost a third of UK land over 600m, by far above the tree-line. Butterflies and moths live the largest area of montane habitat in Britain, in different conditions within each zone. is within the Cairngorms National Park.

THE UPLANDS MONTANE HABITATS Uplands are mostly moorland, Above the tree line, it is cold, In the Cairngorms the upland The high rolling plateau , woodland, scrub windswept and inhospitable zone starts at around 300m, is characterised by late-lying and blanket bog. They are often for much of the year, and the and the montane zone starts snow, boulder fields, scree a mixture of all these, a “habitat growing season is very short. at around 800m. But if you go slopes, steep corrie walls, vast mosaic”, and some species need Only lichens, mosses, sedges, north or west the zones start distances and thin soils making more than one type of habitat rushes and low-growing shrubs lower down, approaching it a special and fragile home to complete their life cycle. can grow in the thin soils sea-level in the Western Isles, for the and between the areas of bare rock. Sutherland, Orkney and surviving there. Much of the uplands is moorland, Shetland. So, you could find dominated by ling heather (), The moths and butterflies The area is incredibly a butterfly or at sea level but if you look a little more closely that live here are well adapted important for upland and in Shetland that could only you can see a patchwork of other to this hostile environment. montane species. All of the be seen on the high tops dwarf shrubs. In some areas, For example, many moths take species described in this in the Cairngorms. such as those with richer soils two years to complete their leaflet occur there. or steeper slopes, there are more life-cycle (see page 14). grasses. The wettest areas, usually flat or gently sloping The remoteness of the high ground, form blanket bogs. mountain environment and the unpredictable and inclement Woodlands and scrub are less weather makes surveying and common, mainly because deer, monitoring difficult. As a result, cattle and sheep have been little is known about the distribution nibbling at any saplings that and life cycle of many of our have grown for centuries. montane species - which is why we need your help! Emperor Moth (female) Northern Eggar

Upland Moths Emperor Moth Northern Eggar pavonia Lasiocampa quercus callunae Wingspan 55 - 85mm Wingspan 68 - 96mm

One of the most spectacular of our Male Northern Eggar moths can be seen moorland species, the day-flying Emperor during the day flying fast and erratically over Moth is characterised by giant eye spots moorland scouting for females. The broad on both pairs of wings. The fully grown pale band of colour on the forewings is easily caterpillar is unmistakable with its bright seen in flight. The female is paler and much pink or yellow spots! larger and than the male - she carries a heavy load of eggs and needs bigger wings to fly.

DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS This is a common moth, The adults fly in April and May This is a common species, The adults fly in May and found in the uplands throughout and caterpillars can be seen found on moorland throughout June and the caterpillars can Scotland, and also on lowland from June to August. They Scotland. Its caterpillars feed be seen from July onwards. heathland. It’s caterpillars overwinter as pupae in brown, on heather and blaeberry. In Scotland and northern feed mainly on heathers, -shaped cocoons, with England the moth has a two but also on other woody openings like lobster pots with year life cycle, overwintering plants and bramble. outward-pointing spikes. The once as a small caterpillar newly emerged moth can get then spending a second out but predators can’t get in. winter as a . Common Heath True Lover’s Knot

Common Heath True Lover’s Knot Ematurga atomaria Lycophotia porphyrea Wingspan 22 - 34mm Wingspan 26 - 34mm

The Common Heath is sometimes abundant, With an unforgettable name, the True Lover’s and to see dozens of them flying over the Knot can be distinguished by its rich reddish moors in the sunshine can be a memorable brown colour and Celtic knot-like pattern sight on a fine day. The males can be on the forewings, which gives us the clue distinguished by their large feathery antennae, as to how its name was derived. used to detect the female’s pheromones from hundreds of metres away.

DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS It is a very common species The adults are active during Another heather-feeder, this The adults can be active on found throughout Scotland the day in May and June, is also a common species bright days, but also fly at night on lowland heathland and especially in bright sunshine. on heathland and moorland and readily come to light. The moorland, its caterpillars The caterpillars are found in throughout Scotland. adults fly from June to August, feeding on heather. mid to late summer, and the and it overwinters as a caterpillar. moth spends the winter as a pupa. Netted Mountain Moth Small Dark Yellow Underwing

Netted Mountain Moth Small Dark Yellow Underwing Macaria carbonaria Anarta cordigera Wingspan 23 - 25mm Wingspan averages 24 - 28mm

The day-flying Netted Mountain Moth is The Small Dark Yellow Underwing is a UKBAP a rare and declining species. The Cairngorms and Cairngorms LBAP species. It is a small National Park is it’s UK stronghold. This small moth, characterised by large white kidney- moth, characterised by wavy black bands shaped spots on the dark forewings, and dark across its grey wings, can be confused bands on the yellow underwings, although with the female Common Heath. However, these are hidden when at rest. it flies faster and is smaller and darker.

DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS The Netted Mountain Moth may The adults are day-flying from The Cairngorms National Park The adults fly by day from late be more widespread in Scotland April through to early June is a stronghold for this moth, April into June. In the sunshine than records would suggest, although dates vary with altitude - but there are also records from they have a fast, buzzing due to under-recording. The sole the higher colonies can emerge Highland Perthshire and Moray. bee-like flight and can often caterpillar foodplant is bearberry much later in the season. The Like the Netted Mountain Moth, be seen nectaring on flowers, (Arctostaphylos) , and colonies can caterpillars are found in late May the caterpillar’s sole foodplant especially those of bearberry. thrive where this is abundant, in to early July and it overwinters is bearberry. It may occur in They may sometimes be found areas often called “Arctostaphylos as a pupa. the montane zone as well resting on rocks or posts. The heath” (see the section on habitat as the upland zone. Small Dark Yellow Underwing management) The Netted Listed in both the UK Biodiversity is a caterpillar from June to July, Mountain Moth is also present Action Plan (UKBAP) and the and it overwinters as a pupa. in Highland Perthshire, Moray Cairngorms Local Biodiversity and Easter Ross. Action Plan (LBAP). See over. A training day for the tourism industry, supported by the Cairngorms LBAP Broad-bordered White Underwing

Biodiversity Action Plans Montane Moths Broad-bordered White Underwing Anarta melanopa Wingspan 26 - 32mm

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) The Broad-bordered White Underwing is highlights the UK’s most threatened species listed on both the Cairngorms and Dumfries and habitats, and outlines ways their conservation & Galloway LBAPs, and can be identified should be co-ordinated. by its greyish brown forewing and white underwing with a dark border and Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) identify dark crescent. regional and local priorities for conservation. They usually include additional species and habitats as well as all of the UKBAP species DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE that occur in the area. CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS Restricted to Scotland, it is The adults are day-flying from a mountain specialist occurring mid May to June, and are active LBAP’s are partnerships of local authorities, on high moorland, summits and in bright sunshine and also on statutory agencies, voluntary conservation ridges, and is rarely seen below warm, cloudy days. They fly bodies and individuals who are working together the tree-line. It’s UK stronghold is in a bee-like fashion just a few probably the Cairngorms National centimetres above the ground, to promote conservation in their area. Most Park, but it has also been recorded perhaps keeping low to avoid LBAPs put on training events and run projects in Wester Ross, Caithness, Argyll the windy conditions of the to help everyone get involved in promoting and Galloway. The caterpillars only high tops. and conserving local wildlife. feed during the short mid to late summer nights, on a range of dwarf shrubs such as bearberry, For more information on the LBAPs in your area, crowberry, blaeberry and cowberry. visit www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk Black Mountain Moth Mountain Burnet

Black Mountain Moth Mountain (or Scotch) Burnet Glacies coracina Zygaena exulans subchracea Wingspan 21 - 28mm Wingspan 24 - 34mm

The Black Mountain Moth’s very rounded The burnets are a group of spectacular wing tips give it an unusual shape. It is also day-flying moths and include some of the distinguished by its dull black colouration rarest in the country. With black and the black spots on its forewings. club-like antennae and conspicuous red markings on their glossy black wings, they are sometimes mistaken for butterflies.

DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS In the UK it is confined to The adults fly in June and July The entire UK population of this The adults fly from late June Scotland, but is widespread in sunshine, but may be found moth is confined to a couple of into July flying in spells of warm in the Cairngorms and has also crawling spider-like on the ground sites in the eastern Cairngorms, sunshine. They may overwinter been recorded in Ross-shire, when it is too cold or windy to fly. on south-facing dry grassy as caterpillars once or twice Sutherland and Perthshire. Their dark colour allows them heath between 700 - 850m. depending on the conditions. The moth is rarely found below to more readily absorb heat while the tree-line, and the caterpillar basking. Numbers of adults seem The caterpillars feed on mainly The Mountain Burnet is the only is thought to mainly feed to be greater in odd-numbered crowberry, but will also eat montane burnet in Britain, and is on crowberry. years e.g. 2007, and it is thought cowberry, blaeberry and heather. listed on the Cairngorms LBAP. that the caterpillars have a two- year life cycle, overwintering twice in order to reach maturity. Larvae grow slowly in the harsh environment Northern Dart

The advantages of a two year life-cycle Northern Dart Xestia alpicola alpina Wingspan 34 - 4 0mm

Many montane species have adapted to The Northern Dart is a UKBAP and a two year life cycle due to the short growing Cairngorms LBAP species. With black season and lack of feeding time. or dark brown on the forewings and red and grey markings, this moth is beautifully The record breaker is a species of Greenland coloured and camouflaged on rocks. moth that takes fifteen years to complete There are no similar species found its lifecycle! in the same habitat.

DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS If the flight period is hampered The moth occurs above tree-line The adults are on the by poor weather, and few adults at various sites in the Cairngorms, wing from June to August. survive to breed successfully, Highland Perthshire, and the They fly at night and are rarely there is at least a chance that the Southern Uplands, where the seen during the day. The moth overwintering larvae and pupae caterpillars feed on crowberry. overwinters twice as a will survive to hatch the following and, unlike the Black Mountain year and be more successful. The Northern Dart also occurs Moth, the adults appear to This may also prevent excessive near to sea level on Harris, be more common in even- build up of parasites - flies and Lewis, Orkney and Shetland. numbered years, e.g. 2006. wasps - whose grubs feed inside the caterpillars and kill them! Small Tortoiseshell

Udea uliginosalis Large Heath Scotch Argus Upland and Montane Butterflies Lots of different butterflies live in the uplands, Udea uliginosalis and you can often see them in the montane zone. A ‘micro-moth’ But there is only one true montane butterfly Wingspan 25 - 31mm in the U K... The Mountain Ringlet.

There are many species of so-called It’s always a bit of a surprise to see butterflies in the ‘micro-moths’. Udea uliginosalis has no hills, but most years we receive records of migrating common name and is a type of micro-moth Painted Ladies and even Small Tortoiseshells, a butterfly you normally think of as living in gardens! called a ‘pyralid’. Many micro-moths are You won’t see many butterflies on exposed moorlands, difficult to distinguish, but this is one of the but there will be more in sheltered places. You will see larger species and is fairly distinctive with them especially along burns where the soils are often its pale colour and relatively long wings. richer, which means more caterpillar food plants and plants for the adults. DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT AND ADAPTATIONS Its UK distribution is restricted to The adults fly through The Scotch Argus can be The caterpillar of only one Scottish the upland moors and mountains June into August. seen as high as 650m in the species feeds on heather, that of Scotland, an it has been Cairngorms, but can also occur of the beautifully iridescent Green recorded in the Cairngorm at sea level. It flies over damp, Hairstreak. It can also feed on and on Orkney and Rum. grassy moorland, especially whin (gorse) and blaeberry, the areas dominated by purple-moor latter probably being its main It is usually seen in grassy grass (Molinia) , one of its main foodplant in Scotland. The adults areas beside streams, but little caterpillar foodplants, although fly in May and June, but are much is known about its ecology. it can feed on other grasses. more commonly found on the The caterpillars are thought lower slopes. to feed on grasses and Wetter, boggy areas support the herbaceous plants. Large Heath, whose caterpillars Other butterfly's you might find feed on cotton-grasses. Adults in sheltered, species-rich, flowery are reluctant to take to the wing habitats in the uplands include except on the sunniest days, Green-veined White, Common and spend much time nectaring Blue, Small Copper, on cross-leaved heath. Brown and Small Heath. Mountain Ringlet Good muirburn favours bearberry

Mountain Ringlet Conservation Erebia epiphron Wingspan 28 - 38mm Habitat management

The Mountain Ringlet is the only butterfly to breed in Centuries of management by grazing and the montane zone. The Mountain Ringlet is a medium- burning have produced Scotland’s unique sized, dark brown butterfly with an orange band and heather moorland, and the wildlife living black spots. It may be confused with the larger and more common Scotch Argus, but this usually occurs there. Since the 1940s, large areas of heather at lower altitudes, and has prominent white eyespots. moorland have been lost to forestry, while The Mountain Ringlet is a UKBAP species, and is also changes in grazing patterns have resulted listed in the Stirling, Highlands and Cairngorms LBAPs. in the spread of bracken and other areas of heather-dominated moorland becoming grassland. DISTRIBUTION AND CATERPILLAR FOODPLANT The distribution of the Mountain It breeds mainly on gentle “Arctostaphylos heath” , Too little muirburn can allow Ringlet is centred on the south-facing slopes supporting dominated by bearberry ling to shade out the bearberry, Breadalbane Hills and the west species-rich grassland. The adults (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is and good muirburn practice central Highlands, where it is found are often seen nectaring on thyme, a particularly rare and threatened that creates a patchwork between 450 and 800m. The best and the caterpillars probably feed habitat, and is very important of small burns is beneficial. places to see it are on the Creag on a range of grasses. for two UKBAP species, Netted Meagaidh and Ben Lawers NNRs. Mountain Moth and Small Dark In areas without burning, LIFE CYCLE Yellow Underwing. grazing allows bearberry to Further west it can be found as AND ADAPTATIONS survive by keeping the heather low as 250m at Glasdrum NNR, Mountain Ringlet adults fly from Bearberry cannot compete well down, but too much relaxation and it also occurs on Ben Lomond. late June into August, but usually with ling (Calluna vulgaris) , so of the grazing pressure can lead It is rare in the Cairngorms, only only in sunshine. The caterpillars it occurs on heather moorland to the loss of the bearberry. occurring in Glen Doll area. over-winter, and are thought to where the ling is kept in check by only feed at night, but little is the soil conditions, topography, known of their ecology. grazing or burning. Recording training day supported by Montane species are retreating uphill Cairngorms and Stirling LBAPs

Climate change How you can help We need to know more

The distribution of many butterflies A greater understanding of the and moths is changing significantly distribution and habitat requirements in response to the warmer weather we is needed to conserve our upland and have been experiencing. Several species montane species. You can help us have colonised Scotland from the south, by sending us your butterfly and while others are being recorded moth sightings. at higher altitudes.

THE INFORMATION WE NEED INCLUDES: We are concerned about our The effects that a warming I Date We may be able to identify what specialist upland and montane climate may have on our I Species name you have seen from good digital species however, as cool and upland and montane species I A six-figure (ideally) photographs. You may also like humid habitats could disappear are unknown, but by learning grid reference to visit www.ukmoths.org.uk or become more fragmented. more about their ecology and I Name of the area or nearest For more information on distribution, we will have more village, town or mountain montane and other species, Researchers at York University chance of conserving them. I Your name and contact or to find out where to send your have shown that in Scotland and details (we may need records, please contact us at: Cumbria, the Mountain Ringlet Unfortunately we know relatively to verify the record and has shifted its range upwards little about the ecology and can provide feedback) Butterfly Conservation in recent years, probably in habitat requirements of many Scotland, Balallan House, response to the warmer weather. upland and montane moths. Allan Park, Stirling, But obviously, our montane FK8 2QG Tel 01786 447753 species can only move so Email: far upwards until they run scotland @butterfly-conservation.org out of mountain! www.butterfly-conservation.org Notes

ACCESS RIGHTS ...... AND RESPONSIBILITIES Everyone has the right to be on most land and inland water ...... providing they act responsibly. Access rights and responsibilities ...... are explained in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at: www.outdooraccess-scotland.com ...... The key things are to: ...... I take responsibility for your own actions I respect the interests of other people ...... I care for the environment...... MOUNTAIN SAFETY Scotland’s mountains can be wild and unpredictable places...... Anyone venturing into the hills should be well prepared and aware that conditions can change very quickly. Always let someone know ...... where you are going so they can alert the authorities if you do not ...... return at your expected time. It is advisable to check the weather forecast before you set out. Essential items to carry with you ...... in the mountains include: ...... Clothing - walking trousers (not jeans), thermal top fleece top, thick socks, walking boots...... Equipment - waterproof jacket & hood, waterproof overtrousers, spare warm clothing, hat & gloves, first aid kit, survival bag, food ...... & drink, map & compass, whistle, watch, torch, mobile phone...... This information was kindly supplied by: The Mountaineering Council of Scotland www.mcofs.org.uk ......