Since 2014, the Marsh Fritillary could no longer be found in the project area and is therefore currently considered lost in the entire district of Siegen-Wittgenstein. Within the project, the species is therefore to be re-introduced. The goal is to establish a self-sustaining population in the habitats that have been improved beforehand. The IUCN criteria for re-introduction will be taken into account. Appropriate maintenance management is to be implemented and maintained within the framework of After-LIFE. The species will be reintroduced by means of propagation breeding. Animals for the propagation breeding will be taken from neighboring populations in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Progress of measures:

At the end of September 2022, a seed collection of the devil's bit (Succisa pratensis) was carried out. This plant is essential as a food source for the caterpillars of the Marsh Fritillary (Euphydrias aurinia) and is now being re-cultivated to improve the appropriate habitats prior to the re-introduction of this butterfly species. Previously, occurrences of this plant species in the project area were mapped to identify the most favorable habitats for re-introduction.

For this purpose, caterpillars were collected in Rhineland-Palatinate for re-breeding together with our cooperation partner, the LIFE project "helle Eifeltäler“ (www.life-helle-eifeltaeler.eu), and the support of the SGD Nord and the responsible biotope supervisor Markus Kunz. The breeding is carried out by the butterfly expert and breeder Wolfgang Losert, where the caterpillars overwinter in an outdoor enclosure and are expected to mate next year after hatching.