The Suffolk Argus A future Suffolk butterfly - Southern Small White (Pieris mannii) Bill Stone, Suffolk Butterfly Recorder
Introduction One of the interesting aspects of my role as County Butterfly Recorder is monitoring movements and changes in the ranges of butterfly species in the UK and Europe. This is particularly important in order for myself and others to make reasonable and balanced judgements about the provenance of any new butterfly species that may occur in Suffolk. As an example, think back a few years to what happened when Scarce (Yellow-legged) Tortoiseshell, Nymphalis xanthomelas was seen to move rapidly through NE Europe. The prospect of this butterfly arriving in Suffolk was unheard of, then a real possibility before becoming an incredible reality.
European gardens. The larval foodplant for P. mannii is predominantly Candy Tuft, Iberis sempervirens but it also uses Bladderpod, Alyssoides utriculata.
One species that is also on the move and which I believe is likely to arrive in Suffolk from Europe is Southern Small White, P. mannii. P. mannii will be a familiar butterfly to many from holidays in southern Europe being very common in Southern France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Its range also extends south to northern Africa and eastwards as far as Turkey and Syria. It is a butterfly that often flies with Small White, Pieris rapae, with both species sharing similar habitats. P. mannii like P. rapae will nectar from a wide variety of flowers and as such is a common sight in
It is unclear how P. mannii might deal with a large expanse of water such as the North Sea but clearly Large White, Pieris brassicae and P. rapae are regular migrants and manage this crossing easily in suitable weather. There are some verbal references to P. mannii being seen crossing the Mediterranean Sea but by comparison the Strait of Gibraltar is only 14km wide. That said, P. mannii is a robust and hardy butterfly being able to exist in a variety of habitats and climates. It proves this by coping well with high altitudes and is in found at heights of up to 2000 metres
Over the last 10 years, P. mannii has been closely monitored by a number of European butterfly organisations and experts. I too have kept a close eye on reports in recent years as this butterfly has been recorded as expanding in a northerly direction at a rate of 100 km a year. Contact with Chris Van Swaay of De Vlinderstichting (Dutch Butterfly Conservation) via social media and email has led me to believe that the arrival of P. mannii in south-east England and particularly Suffolk is a real possibility in the next 2-3 years.
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