Return of the argus
DURING these difficult times, we’re delighted to bring you some good news!
We’re thrilled to announce the emergence of some rare Manchester argus caterpillars, ahead of their reintroduction to Greater Manchester for the first time in over 100 years.
The Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership has spent the last few years working hard to restore and revive many of the remaining peatlands and wetlands in an area stretching from Greater Manchester right through to the Mersey corridor.
Areas such as Astley Moss near Salford were historically drained and had their peat extracted for fuel, leaving them barren wastelands, devoid of life, and leaking carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
However due to the hard work of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and our partners within the Great Manchester Wetlands team, these sites are bouncing back to life.
So much so that we are ready to start reintroducing some of the rare and specialised creatures that once would have called these peatlands home.
One such animal is the Manchester argus butterfly, also known as the large heath butterfly.
These little critters were last seen fluttering around Astley Moss over 100 years ago, so we thought that it was time for them to make a welcome comeback.
Last summer saw a small number of pregnant female Manchester argus butterflies collected from Winmarleigh Moss near Garstang; one of only a few areas in the North West where they had managed to maintain a population.
They were then transported to Chester Zoo where they laid their eggs.
The eggs then laid dormant for several months, until a few tiny caterpillars started to emerge around a week ago.
Initially only 1mm in length, they spent their time chomping on the hare’s-tail cotton grass that had been brought to the zoo from the peatlands especially for them.
Now heading for a whole 1cm long, they have delicate white stripes running along the length of their bodies, making them perfectly camouflaged in the grass (and from the keepers caring for them!).
Once they have pupated they will be transported to Astley Moss and also to Risley Moss that is owned by Warrington Borough Council, where they will be kept safe in special release pens until the butterflies emerge and can make their way onto the moss for the first time in over a century.
The butterflies will then spend their time slurping nectar from cross-leaved heath (another specialised plant that is only found on peatlands) before mating and laying their eggs to start a whole new population of these once common butterflies.
Whilst visiting these butterflies at any time would not be possible as their release sites are protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest, we are encouraging everyone to connect with the nature around them.
Getting out into your garden, spotting birds from your window or attempting to entertain the kids by finding shapes in the clouds can significantly improve wellbeing, which must be paramount in these worrying times.
Keep safe and well, and take joy in nature.