Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Euphydryas aurinia

There are 28 species of butterfly in Ireland, including three migrant species. The Marsh Fritillary is widely recorded, but occurs in extremely localised colonies. It is found in rough grassy meadows and damp wood edges, unimproved grassland especially wet grassland, eskers and bogs.

Its larval food plant is devil’s-bit scabious. The Irish populations of this beautifully patterned butterfly constitute a distinct subspecies with a colour pattern somewhat different from other races.

The decline of the Marsh Fritillary is linked to the decline in unimproved grassland, heavy summer grazing, abandonment of grazing and the lack of enough suitable habitat patches in a region to accommodate their pattern of spreading over large areas in some years and contracting to core breeding patches in others.

The Kerry Slug Geomalacus maculosus

The Kerry slug is common in old Red Sandstone areas in the south-west. It lives among rocks, in heather moorland and rough pasture, or more rarely in oak woods on moss-covered timber. There is no evidence that it is declining.

Two colour forms are found depending on habitat. The open country form is a charcoal colour with numerous white spots. The woodland form is bronze or ginger in colour with yellow or gold spots and yellowish mucus. Each form blends in well with its surroundings.

Freshwater Pearl Mussel  Margaritifera margaritifera

Unlike many other molluscs, this mussel requires clean, cool, well-oxygenated water free from mud and suspended matter.  It is a declining species throughout Europe and has become extinct in some places in Ireland. The causes are various and include destruction by pearl fishers, physical changes to the habitat and pollution. The species is particularly vulnerable because of its longevity (one hundred years or more) and slow reproduction. In most rivers where it is present, there are no juveniles. It lives on gravel in high quality, low nutrient streams and rivers.