Princely orchids versus Fagnes butterflies?

^{Colias Palaeno femelle © Charles J. Sharp}

Léon Fredericq, a doctor of medicine and natural sciences and professor at the University of Liège, was a man in love with the Fagnes region. It was thanks to him that the University created its Station Scientifique des Hautes Fagnes in 1924. He kept a logbook full of valuable botanical and historical information, as well as a few anecdotes.

On June 24, 1931, H.R.H. Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant and future King of the Belgians, visited the Fagnes. Researchers from the Station Scientifique welcomed him and accompanied him on his visit to several particularly remarkable spots in the Fagnes around the Baraque Michel. The logbook notes that after a lunch on the grass, the Prince captured some magnificent butterflies, including Solitaires (Colias Palaeno). Three weeks later, a parcel was brought to the Scientific Station with the utmost care, accompanied by the message: "With my best regards and thanks for the pleasant day spent at Baraque Michel. Léopold de Belgique, July 13, 1931 The parcel contained six bog orchids (Habenaria bifolia), whose fate was somewhat unusual in that the researchers planted them... near the toilet!

^{Excerpts from Léon Fredericq's logbook}

The Solitaire (Colias Palaeno) is a magnificent yellow butterfly with a pink border that lives in bogs and cold wet meadows. The caterpillar feeds on the white-fleshed wolfberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Females are slightly paler than males. On the dorsal side, the wingtips are black with a black ocelli (round spot). On the ventral side, there is only a white eye-spot.

Very common on the Plateau des Fagnes in the first half of the 20th century, this butterfly was last seen there in 1956. Its disappearance is thought to be due to peat mining and massive conifer plantations, which considerably altered the biotope, to the rise in temperature in the 1950s, and also to excessive capture by collectors. It is currently on the red list of protected species.

The Station Scientifique des Hautes-Fagnes has three specimens of Solitaire. There are also a few in the Hexapoda conservatory.

^{Examples from the Station scientifique des Hautes Fagnes on the left, and from Hexapoda on the right}

The Collections of Haute-Ardenne - Hautes Fagnes Scientific Station

The Collections of the Hexapoda InsectariumTHE HEXAPODA INSECTARIUM COLLECTIONS