Small Tortoiseshell
Never seen in abundance in Latchmore, this beautiful butterfly seems to have declined to the point of near extinction locally. It was the very first species seen on my first monitoring count in April 2015, and small numbers continued to be found in subsequent years. Even in 2019, although none were seen on the monitored route, I found one a few hundred metres away, near Abbots Well. By 2020, the decline was evident elsewhere in the New Forest as well, however a slight revival in 2021 gives some grounds for hope that it will survive.
total seen
maxima
first seen
last seen
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
... the stats box
2 1 16th April 15th June
3 1 14th July 15th Sept
0 0 not seen not seen
0 0 not seen not seen
1 1 14th August 14th August
3 2 5th April 7th July
1 1 7th Sept 7th Sept
5 2 6th April 2nd Sept