Butterfly relocation: We organised a private
"study-tour" in co-operation with local experts
and conservationists to re-colonize and photograph Zephyr
Blues. This is one of our rarest butterfly, discovered
1944 next to Budapest. Later one of our best Lycaenidae
expert, dr. Richard Szabo did find it near Göd in 1953,
and later dr. Zsolt Balint, curator of the HNHM find several
new locations around the Plains of Pest and the Szentendre
Island, between 1985-1987. A famous discovery happened in
1991, when Prof. Zoltan Varga find it next to Tokaj on Astragalus
dasyanthus (previously it was known only on A. exscapus
here in Hungary), which was the first location away from the
surroundings of Budapest. Finally botanist Zoltan Vajda and
Andras Mate, rangers of the Kiskunsag NP discovered the only
population on sand, in 1998, which was the place of our relocation
as well. We captured and relocated 35 specimen to a new place
with strong foodplant population, which was highly succesfull.
After the action the butterflies immediatelly landed on their
foodplant and started to laying their eggs in the new habitat.
Another 3-4 years will needed to support the new colony before
it will establish themselfve. Another ongoing project will
start in two weeks with the False Ringlets (only one colony
left).
Ps.: Sincerest gratitude to Zsolt
Balint, who corrected my text and provided valuable details
for the history of the species.
25 May, 2009
Zephyr Blue - One of the four strictly protected butterflies
of Hungary.
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