A recent fire in a field in Kingcraig, Earlsferry, Fife spread quickly onto the coastal path and down to the shoreline which is a SSSI, site of special scientific interest, and is protected by law. The fire destroyed the habitat of the rare Northern Brown Argus butterfly and caused substantial damage to one of the most scenic sections of the coastal path. The fire came at the most vulnerable stage in its lifecycle when the caterpillars are going in to hibernation on the ground below the vegetation. The fear is that next year’s population will have now been seriously affected with many of the caterpillars dying in the fire. The Northern Brown Argus occurs in small scattered colonies therefore any damage to its habitat can be catastrophic to the local population. The butterfly relies solely on a plant called Common Rock-rose which carpets the slopes at Kingcraig in the summer months; it will be an anxious wait to see how this plant recovers next year in the hope that the fire damage will not have serious impacts on the future of this population of Northern Brown Argus. If anyone has any knowledge of the fire please contact 101 or contact crimestoppers anonymously. POLICE SCOTLAND – KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 08:20:15 +0000
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