Effect of vegetation and management on occurrence of larvae and adults of generalist Maniola jurtina L. (Lepidoptera) in meadow habitats

Published source details Kulfan J., Strbova E. & Zach P. (2012) Effect of vegetation and management on occurrence of larvae and adults of generalist Maniola jurtina L. (Lepidoptera) in meadow habitats. Polish Journal of Ecology, 60, 601-609.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Reduce cutting frequency on grassland Action Link
	Cease mowing on grassland to allow early succession Action Link

Reduce cutting frequency on grassland

A replicated, site comparison study in 2003–2006 in 16 hay meadows in central Slovakia (Kulfan et al. 2012) found that meadows which were mown once/year had a similar abundance of meadow brown Maniola jurtina butterflies and caterpillars to meadows mown twice/year, but a higher abundance than abandoned, unmown meadows. In meadows mown once/year, the abundance of both meadow brown adults (12–81 individuals/transect) and caterpillars (10–26 individuals/transect) was not significantly different from meadows mown twice/year (adults: 14–45; caterpillars: 1–8 individuals/transect). However, meadows mown once/year had a higher abundance of both adults and caterpillars than abandoned, unmown meadows (adults: 6–33; caterpillars: 1–2 individuals/transect). Four meadows at the edge of oak-hornbeam forests and four open meadows were mown once/year in late June or July. Four further meadows were mown twice/year in late May–early June and from late July–September, and four abandoned meadows had not been mown for 15 years. From June–August 2003–2005, adult butterflies were counted 4–7 times/year on seven 50-m transects in each habitat type. In May 2005 and 2006, caterpillars were surveyed at night, 1–4 times/year, by sweeping vegetation with a net along ten 50-m transects in each habitat type (60 sweeps/transect).

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
Cease mowing on grassland to allow early succession

A replicated, site comparison study in 2003–2006 in 16 hay meadows in central Slovakia (Kulfan et al. 2012) found that abandoned meadows had a lower abundance of meadow brown Maniola jurtina butterflies and caterpillars than meadows mown once/year. In unmown, abandoned meadows, the abundance of both meadow brown adults (6–33 individuals/transect) and caterpillars (1–2 individuals/transect) was lower than in meadows mown once/year (adults: 12–81; caterpillars: 10–26 individuals/transect). Meadows mown twice/year had intermediate abundance of both adults (14–45 individuals/transect) and caterpillars (1–8 individuals/transect). Four abandoned meadows had not been mown for 15 years. Four meadows at the edge of oak-hornbeam forests and four open meadows were mown once/year in late June or July. A further four meadows were mown twice/year in late May–early June and from late July–September. From June–August 2003–2005, adult butterflies were counted 4–7 times/year on seven 50-m transects in each habitat type. In May 2005 and 2006, caterpillars were surveyed at night, 1–4 times/year, by sweeping vegetation with a net along ten 50-m transects in each habitat type (60 sweeps/transect).

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)