Rare butterflies - Habitat for endangered golden fritillary butterfly
The endangered Golden Checkerspot Butterfly has found a habitat in Itzehoe, Steinburg District. "Ten years after we released the first specimens, we can now speak of a stable, self-sustaining population in the Northheide Heath," said insect expert Detlef Kolligs from the Nature Conservation Foundation. "The Golden Checkerspot Butterfly has been saved here."
According to the Nature Conservation Foundation, the latest count yielded 150 specimens in a day. The real value is said to be two- to three-fold. The butterfly project was funded by the EU. Between 2014 and 2016, 15,000 caterpillars were released. "That sounds like a lot. However, it is assumed that only about one in every hundred caterpillars makes it to adulthood," said Kolligs.
In recent years, the Butterfly Rescue Team of the Foundation has created a landscape of sparse green land on the former military training ground for the delicate butterflies with a multitude of measures, providing enough food and nectar plants for caterpillars and butterflies. Small caterpillars were kept safe and only released when they had grown to adult size. The rare day-flying insect species in the region was believed to be extinct for almost 20 years, according to reports.
The Golden Checkerspot Butterfly's successful conservation efforts in Itzehoe, located in the Steinburg district of Schleswig-Holstein, have attracted attention to other potential nature conservation projects in the area. TheUnique habitat of the butterfly in this region is now recognized as a vital part of the local biodiversity, particularly for animal species dependent on it. Visitors to Itzehoe often include the site as a stop on nature-themed tours, fostering environmental awareness and appreciation among the community.
