Dispar
The Online Journal of Lepidoptera
ISSN 2056-9246
The Online Journal of Lepidoptera
ISSN 2056-9246
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This is a softback book, A4, 36 pages.
This is a pioneering, original, site guide to Swiss Butterflies. Easily accessible butterfly sites across Switzerland are described. The full range of habitat is visited including Woodland, Wetland, Rocky Steppe, Mountain and High Mountain. Nectar plants are identified where possible. Butterfly subspecies found in specific locations are highlighted. Locations for species not covered in the main sites, are indicated in additional sites to visit. Each page has a unique selection of photographs. All photographs are identified with the butterfly, date and place. Photograph locations are given according to the River Valley and Canton.
The Alps of Switzerland are one of the best regions in Europe for butterflies, with Valais - especially the Rhône Valley east of Martigny and the mountains to the north and south - boasting a particularly high density of species. The wide range of habitats, from lowland forest to high alpine tundra and from dusty, bare, Mediterranean vineyards to lush grazing pastures, is to thank for this. At any time of year butterflies can be found when the sun shines and in high summer it is possible to see 50 or more species in a day without great effort.
Jason Sargerson has been returning to the country in different seasons for many years and has gained a good knowledge of the species and habitats in the areas he has visited. The present, modest book is not so much a comprehensive compendium of sites as an enthusiast's guide to selected areas, giving an idea of what species can be found where and how to get around by public transport. If you want a grid reference for Erebia christi or Melitaea asteria, I am glad to say this book does not reveal such secrets. But if you want a feel for the kinds of place where you might, if lucky, chance upon local specialities like this, and a broader picture of the range of butterflies to be found in an area, there is plenty for you here. The book is not an identification guide but it does include photos of about 150 species - useful for the beginner, for whom the names alone might not mean so much. It also includes rather nice shots of habitats and scenery.
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The 30 or so sites mentioned are grouped into 15 more general locations - mostly valleys and passes - of which 5 are in Valais and 5 in Graubünden. The remaining 5 are in Geneva, Schwyz, Bern, Ticino and Jura. This obviously means that many areas, including some rich in butterfly species, are omitted completely, limiting the usefulness of the book. That said, if you are planning a holiday in Switzerland and wondering where to go, it might help devise an itinerary guaranteed to include some butterfly hotspots. Sargerson is a rail enthusiast and his travel tips relate exclusively to public transport - but then again, if you drive you hardly need advice on how to get somewhere. One of the beauties of Switzerland is that even the remotest village is reachable by train, post bus, funicular or télécabine!
The book points to some useful websites, including the Swiss fauna database, which gives the known localities of all species to the nearest 5km square. It also includes a list of some of the important nectar sources for adult butterflies, linking these to groups of species. Slim and light enough to slip into your hand-luggage, as well as inexpensive and attractively produced, this book is easy to recommend to anyone interested in butterflies and planning a trip to this wonderful country.
The booklet can be ordered directly from the author: Jason Sargerson, 17 Muirfield Park, Westbourne Avenue, Hull, East Yorks, HU5 3JF. Price is £10.00 including postage to UK addresses, £13.00 to addresses in Europe. Cheques payable to Jason Sargerson. Alternatively, order via Charaxes Publications.