The Adonis Blue butterfly – Lysandra bellargus was present along Devil’s Dyke in double figures when I visited this week. Last year, there were much rarer reports of sightings, so it’s presumably established something of a colony here.
However, all is not as it seems. This species was not recorded at this site until very recently. Indeed, when the naturalists were first systematically recording species 200 years ago, it was definitely not listed as one of the natives in its natural habitat by Leonard Jenyns in this area. It’s usually found on chalky downs in the south of England. Devil’s Dyke itself, it should be noted, is not a natural feature, it’s of human construction.
It is likely that Adonis Blue has been deliberately and unofficially released by members of the public in the area and has begun to become established as it has also done in Therfield near Royston. The ones fluttering by Devil’s Dyke at the moment are perhaps second or third generation adults. It’s the correct habitat for the species, just not in the natural place.