Status
.....The Large Tortioseshell
is long extinct in Nottinghamshire and the UK, now only occurring as
a very rare/occasional migrant to south-eastern coasts,
or (potentially) as captive-bred releases or escapes.
There are however, two recent 'claims' of this butterfly
from Nottinghamshire. The first was reported from
Attenborough NR on September 20th 2003 and the second
more recently, from Potwell Dyke Grasslands at Southwell
on July 29th 2017. Both records appear to be
unsubstantiated with no supporting photographs or
descriptions etc.
But one definite (and potentially quite valid) record of a Large
Tortioseshell from south Nottinghamshire in July 2023
(Johnson, B.) will obviously have the
usual suspicions regarding possible release attached to it. However, in
view of a number of records in some southern counties of the UK in the
past few years, there is always the possibility of this record involving
a genuine wild butterfly. |
