High Noon for the High Brown Fritillary

News that the 'UK's most endangered butterfly', the High brown fritillary (Argynnis adippe) showed a 180% increase in 2014 (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/02/uks-most-endangered-butterfly-high-brown-fritillary-makes-comeback) is initially impressive but one should remember that small numbers are more likely to show big percentage changes than larger populations. The improvement followed a climatically better year for butterflies and some very intensive management of habitats in the insect's remaining strongholds. The butterfly feeds on violets and scrub has to be removed to prevent the food plants being shaded out. The females also have to find the violet leaves where the larvae develop to over-winter. A combination of human activity and grazing animals (at the right times of the year) appear to be mandatory.