Large
Heath (Coenonympha tullia ssp.
scotica)
Inverness-shire, June 2016
Found
in the north of the British Isles, C.
tullia is unique in that it is more or less confined to boggy habitats. It
lives on the British mainland in isolated colonies from central Wales in the
south to Orkney in the north, and also in scattered colonies throughout
Ireland. It is absent from Shetland.
The
eyespots on the underside vary considerably. Those in the north have almost no
spots at all with adults looking very similar to a large Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), while those in
the south have very distinctive spots. This has given rise to three named
subspecies. Those with the least distinct spots are referred to as ssp. scotica, those with the
most distinct spots as ssp. davus
and those that are intermediate as ssp.
polydama. This species forms a typical cline and, unsurprisingly, intermediates occur between the three
named forms. Subspecies scotica is
found in northern Scotland, north of a line between the Clyde Isles in the west
and North Aberdeenshire in the east. It is found in most of the western isles
and is also present in Orkney. The
primary larval foodplant is Hare's-tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum).
Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium) and
Jointed Rush (Juncus articulatus) are also used.
The
two males pictured above are from Inverness-shire and were photographed early
one morning during the biggest emergence of biting midges I have ever
experienced - they got everywhere!
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