De parel van het schrale veld

The Glanvllle Fritlllary (Melitaea cinxia) used to be a relatively common butterfly in both the Netherlands and Belgium. The species occurred mainly on dry, nutrient poor and flowery grasslands in open woodlands and in the traditional agricultural landscape till the 19505. Recent data show that there is only one population left in the Netherlands, a few in the Belgian Campine and an uncertain occurrence in the extreme south of Belgium. The main threat is the loss of suitable habitat. The main, but small populations in Flanders live on unprotected small canal borders. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen causes enrichment of the last potentially suitable grasslands in nature reserves and military areas.