It's native where I am but colonies are well scattered. Even if a release were to occur where I am, it probably wouldn't do that well as the foodplant Devils-bit scabious isn't that common where I am really in my experience, I have only seen it at a nature reserve. Scabiosa and knautia varieties however are quite common garden centre seeds/plants. Honeysuckle though is more common though in woodland and waste ground, I had forgotten that this was a foodplant too until you mentioned it, I'm guessing its a reluctant one in the wild.
It could well be, but larvae take to it well. I'm lucky as I do have Devil's-bit Scabious in the garden, where it does well and is a great nectar source for insects.
I think that Honeysuckle is probably rarely used in the wild too. Devil's-bit Scabious is also an uncommon plant here, and I know of nowhere locally to me, where any captive release could be made around habitat with enough larval food plant to sustain a viable population. Shame.
I’d say if people do release these butterflies they probably don’t release them in areas of suitable habitat, or areas of habitat that are large enough.
Indeed. For a butterfly which is so regularly bred and available to buy, it is surprising that it has not been introduced at many sites. Saying that, it almost certainly has, but doesn't seem able to survive at those where they're released. You're very probably correct in your thinking.
It's native where I am but colonies are well scattered. Even if a release were to occur where I am, it probably wouldn't do that well as the foodplant Devils-bit scabious isn't that common where I am really in my experience, I have only seen it at a nature reserve. Scabiosa and knautia varieties however are quite common garden centre seeds/plants.
Honeysuckle though is more common though in woodland and waste ground, I had forgotten that this was a foodplant too until you mentioned it, I'm guessing its a reluctant one in the wild.
It could well be, but larvae take to it well. I'm lucky as I do have Devil's-bit Scabious in the garden, where it does well and is a great nectar source for insects.
I think that Honeysuckle is probably rarely used in the wild too. Devil's-bit Scabious is also an uncommon plant here, and I know of nowhere locally to me, where any captive release could be made around habitat with enough larval food plant to sustain a viable population. Shame.
I’d say if people do release these butterflies they probably don’t release them in areas of suitable habitat, or areas of habitat that are large enough.
Indeed. For a butterfly which is so regularly bred and available to buy, it is surprising that it has not been introduced at many sites. Saying that, it almost certainly has, but doesn't seem able to survive at those where they're released. You're very probably correct in your thinking.