Bonte zandoogjes en versnippering: vriend of vijand?

In a rural area near Louvain (Flanders) a survey was carried out on the distribution of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies in different types of habitat (woodlands, along hedgerows, country lanes) Most specimens were seen in the woodlands and also in sheltered country lanes, whereas in open fields there were very few butterflies. Capture-marking-recapture experiments indicated that butterflies used hedgerows and flowery verges as a corridor and not as their habitat. The thorax of the Speckled Woods captured in the different habitats were also measured. Results showed that butterflies in open agricultural fields have a larger thorax than butterflies from the woods.