Description :
The upperside is a rich brown ground colour, orange markings and a whiteish chequered fringe. The underwing is a lighter tawny brown with dark spots on the forewing and white spots on the hindwing. Both sexes are similar except the orange upperwing spots and the white underwing spots on the female are larger and slightly brighter.
Distribution :
The Duke of Burgundy is found in scattered colonies across southern England, with more isolated colonies in the southern Lake District and North Yorkshire. It has declined substantially in recent decades, especially in woodlands where it is reduced to fewer than 20 sites.
Habitat:
Two principal habitats are used: chalk or limestone grassland, with either extensive areas of scrub or topographical shelter; or clearings on ancient woodland sites, either regenerating coppice, young plantations, sizeable glades or wide rides.
Diet:
The main foodplants are Cowslip and Primrose. It occasionally uses the so-called 'False Oxlip', the hybrid
of these two Primula species.
Status:
UK Biodiversity Action Plan:Priority Species
European threat status: threatened
Protected in Great Britain for sale only
Did You Know?:
The slug like catterpillars feed on Primroses and cowslips and grow rapidly - getting ready to enter the pupa/resting stage in two months time. This actually lasts for Ten months with the newly hatched ones appearng in May and June.
