Gentiaanblauwtjes in Drenthe

A project to obtain data on the distribution of Maculinea alcon In the province Drenthe was started In 1990. These data are Important for drawing up policy and management measures to protect this endangered species. Sites where the host plant Gentiana pneumonanthe occurs were visited and further ecological data were obtained. The blotops consisted predominantly of moist heathland. On more than half of the sites visited, 56 populations of M. alcon were found. This encouraging number cannot disclose the fact that many populations have disappeared due to deterioration of the blotops.