The Endangered Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Mural
Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Mural
A vibrant mural celebrating the endangered Marsh Fritillary Butterfly has been unveiled at the Design Bank in Miltown Malbay, housed in the historic old Bank of Ireland building. The artwork, created by Marcus O’Connor of Sufek West Murals, is part of a larger community project supported by Clare County Council's Climate Action Team and the Creative Communities Creative Ireland Programme.
The mural prominently features the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly, Ireland's only insect listed as a protected species under Annex II due to its high risk of extinction. The artwork also showcases native wildflowers, including the Devils Bit Scabious, and other local flora that are interdependent with the butterfly. These elements together highlight the fragile and beautiful ecosystem of Miltown Malbay, where a critical breeding site for the butterfly is located.
About The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly
The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly has an orange and cream square pattern on their wings and can be identified by their distinctive cream bands on their underwing.
Did you know? The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly is one of Ireland’s few legally protected Butterflies. It is protected under Annex II of the European Union Habitats and Species Directive.
Marsh Fritillary | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org)They are threatened throughout Ireland but can be found across Europe and as far east as Asia, their numbers have been declining steadily throughout the world over the past few decades due mainly to habitat loss as land is being changed and improved for agriculture and forestry.
The Marsh Fritillary butterfly is found in wet or marshy areas hence its name, the adult butterflies fly from May to June and can be effected by the weather during bad years with a late summer they can take longer to develop and may not fly until a few weeks later.
They rely on Devil’s Bit Scabious, Succisa pratensis, for their lifecycle. It is a blue flowering plant with broad leaves and it is vital to the survival of the marsh fritillary. This plant can grow in a variety of habitats but with agricultural intensification and traditional farming practices declining they are not as abundant as they once were.
The mature adults lay their eggs under the leaves of the plant in large numbers the larvae or caterpillars hatch from them roughly 30 days later in early to mid-June and spin webs around the leaves of the devils bit scabious. They can live in large groups together creating small areas of dense webs and can be seen in late September.
The larvae stay together in colonies until March when they pupate or create a cocoon, they emerge as adults in early April to May on the leaves or twigs of the scabious plant. The emerging adults then start the lifecycle again, they can survive for about two to three weeks.
Source: Irish Wildlife Trust
How We Can Support Butterflies
In Ireland, there exists a vast network of potential habitats within gardens that can be effectively managed to support these beautiful insects. Regardless of size, every garden has the potential to make a meaningful difference for butterfly conservation. The “Gardening for Butterflies” by the National Biodiversity Data Centre booklet aims to offer evidence-based recommendations on how to manage gardens to create favourable conditions for butterflies. Whether in private homes, schools, or community spaces, together we can make a significant impact in nurturing and safeguarding these important creatures.
Aoife O'Malley (owner of the design bank), Alex Gill and Maeve Stone (cracking light) and Eva Birdthistle, Creative communities Engagement Officer Clare Coco.
Photo accreditation: Anete Jakovleva.
About Clare County Council Climate Action Team
Clare County Council's Climate Action Team partnered with Cracking Light Productions and Sufek West Murals to develop the mural which was funded under the Creative Communities Creative Ireland Programme. Chris Dixon O'Mara, Clare County Council's Climate Action Officer, emphasized the importance of this project in raising awareness about local biodiversity. "The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly is not just a symbol of the rich natural heritage of Miltown Malbay but also a reminder of the delicate balance within our ecosystems. This mural serves as a visual representation of the urgent need to protect our endangered species and their habitats. We hope it will inspire the community to take action for conservation."
For more information on Clare County Council's Climate Action work visit the Clare Climate Action Engagement Platform.
About Miltown Malbay Design Bank
The mural’s location, the former Bank of Ireland building on the town’s main street, is being transformed into a creative hub for artists and designers, and earlier this summer building owner Aoife O’Malley launched the exciting ‘Design Bank’. “For me, Design Bank is all about connection, a bringing together of people across all generations to celebrate the skilful traditions of the past and allowing them to inform our future. I think the butterfly is a wonderful symbol of life, a reminder of how short it is, its fragility and its beauty and of the joy it brings when you take the time to seek it. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity of working with Maeve, Alex, Marcus & Derek on this stunning mural and a huge thank you to all those in the local community who have contributed to the project,” said Aoife.
To keep up to date with exhibitions and workshops at the visit the Design Bank Instagram.