I'd never thought of York as a centre for rare breeds until I heard about the Tansy Beetle, which is only found near York in the UK, although it is more widespread on the European mainland. So here is a specimen on a Tansy plant at Fulford, some 2 miles south of the city centre.
Wikipedia says 'The tansy beetle (Chrysolina graminis) is a green leaf beetle, with a metallic sheen. The common name derives from the tansy plant on which they often feed as both larvae and adults. In the United Kingdom, its range is currently restricted to about 30 miles of the banks of the River Ouse centred on York, North Yorkshire'.
Well, I'm totally bowled over by all your generous comments and favs, which put this onto the popular page - something the Fisher Family haven't achieved for a very long time. Thank you to all of you!
Lovely image of "The Jewel in York's Crown". Behind the gardeners' brick shed in Museum Gardens is a specially created "nursery". About 60 beetles were introduced a few years ago with instructions to go forth and multiply - which they have done with great gusto.
You may be interested to learn that we have an even more rare moth, the Dark Bordered Beauty, which lives at Strensall Common, its only English site. Last year, after huge ongoing conservation efforts, 42!!! specimens were counted.
j
Thnk you - it is a really beautiful creature. I'm not sure if it is deliberate, but last summer there seemed to be much more tansy growing beside the river between the Museum Gardens and Clifton Bridge.
I hadn't heard about the Dark Bordered Beauty moth before - I will have to learn more!
There has been a clearing/planting enterprise by TBAG (Tansy Beetle Action Group) to restore, improve and extend the range of our little jewel.
The beetle can only walk about 200 yards & if it hasn't found Tansy plant will not survive. If Tansy is planted in a grazing area, there are exclusion fences around the plants. This is working at Strensall and along the Ouse.
Check Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire for info about the DBB.
j
January 8th, 2017
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Well, I'm totally bowled over by all your generous comments and favs, which put this onto the popular page - something the Fisher Family haven't achieved for a very long time. Thank you to all of you!
Ian
You may be interested to learn that we have an even more rare moth, the Dark Bordered Beauty, which lives at Strensall Common, its only English site. Last year, after huge ongoing conservation efforts, 42!!! specimens were counted.
j
Thnk you - it is a really beautiful creature. I'm not sure if it is deliberate, but last summer there seemed to be much more tansy growing beside the river between the Museum Gardens and Clifton Bridge.
I hadn't heard about the Dark Bordered Beauty moth before - I will have to learn more!
Ian
The beetle can only walk about 200 yards & if it hasn't found Tansy plant will not survive. If Tansy is planted in a grazing area, there are exclusion fences around the plants. This is working at Strensall and along the Ouse.
Check Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire for info about the DBB.
j