Nature on our doorsteps: The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly

Rosaleen Dwyer is the County Heritage Officer at South Dublin County Council – every week she gives us an insight into nature on our doorsteps and the beautiful biodiversity of its plants and wildlife. 

THE beautiful Marsh Fritillary butterfly was recently spotted by an observant resident who photographed it as it rested on the wall of a house in Clondalkin village.

This butterfly has a lovely chequered pattern of cream, orange, and brown blotches on the top side of its wings.

The undersides are brighter, with bands of pale cream and orange squares.

This Marsh Fritillary is the only insect species in Ireland that is listed for protection under the European Habitats Directive.

This law requires all EU member states to designate and manage core areas of suitable habitat where this butterfly and its caterpillars can survive.

The butterfly is described as being ‘Vulnerable’ in Ireland, meaning it is considered to be at high risk of extinction.

Devil’s-Bit Scabious is the food plant for the Marsh Fritillary’s caterpillars

While it can occur in places across the country, its numbers are not high, and populations have declined due to the continuing loss of suitable breeding habitats for its caterpillars.

The food plant of the butterfly’s caterpillar is the Devil’s-Bit Scabious.

The flowers of this plant have rounded heads (shaped like a pin cushion) which hold small blue-purple flowers all crowded together.

The plant is in bloom between July and October, at which time the butterfly’s caterpillars are hatched and ready to munch on its leaves.

The caterpillars stay together in a web as they feed and grow.

The plant’s name refers to the fact that its root stock looks like it has been chopped off at the end, as if it had been bitten off by the devil himself.

The term ‘Scabious’, refers to its previous use in folk medicine to cure skin complaints like scabies.

The preferred habitat of this butterfly is wherever Devil’s-Bit Scabious is plentiful, and this plant occurs in damp meadows and marshes and along riverbanks.

The butterfly spotted in Clondalkin had most likely ventured into the village from the nearby River Camac or Corkagh Park where these habitats occur.

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