Protection of habitats of butterfly Scarce Large Blue (Polish "Modraszek", Phengaris teleius) in Zakrzowek (Cracow, Poland)

1. Protection of habitats of butterfly
Scarce Large Blue
(Modraszek, Phengaris teleius)
in Zakrzowek (Cracow, Poland)
Photographed by Anett Richter, 2003 - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Green Europe Project coordinator
Rustavi, Georgia 2012 Project funded by REVERS Foundation

2. Zakrzowek
• Location: Cracow
• pit limestone mine open until 1990
• lake formed in 1990
– Depth - 32 m.
– Visibility – 15 m.
• Dive Center
• Climbing Center
• An attractive place for rest
• ​
The largest area of habitat Scarce Large Blue

3. Butterfly Scarce Large Blue
(Phengaris teleius)
• The biggest Polish stand is in Zakrzowek
• Enviroment:
– wet meadows
– the parent plant (Sanguisorba officinalis)
– ants
– a habitat management
• Suck the nectar from the flowers of purple, pink and red
• Good indicator of environmental changes
• Rate of biodiversity

4. Zakrzowek
Photo: Google maps

5. Zakrzowek
Access to the premises is prohibited
Photo: REVERS Foundation

6. Butterfly Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius)
• Range of Modraszek
• Endangered species in Europe
• The European Union, the area protected by the Nature 2000
network.
• In Poland, subject to legal protection.

7. Life cycle of Scarce Large Blue
• Life of Scarce Large Blue
– eggs - 8 days
– Track - 11 months,
– Chrysalis – 3 weeks
– Adult insect - from 36 hours to 3 days
(from early July to late August)
Photo: REVERS Foundation
• Scarce Large Blue eggs, usually singly, on the inflorescences
only one flower
(Sanguisorba officinalis)
• Then the caterpillar falls to the ground and pretends to be a lost
ant larva
• The ants take care of her as his until it turns into a chrysalis
• Then changes into a butterfly and leaves the anthill

8. Threats to Scarce Large Blue
Changes in environmental conditions caused by humans
• reduction in groundwater levels
• loss of host plant and host ant positions
• the fragmentation of the landscape
• the destruction of suitable habitats
Photo: REVERS Foundation Photo: REVERS Foundation

9. Area of Scarce Large Blue

10. Zakrzowek
A conflict of nature versus human
• Different plans of land use
– construction of residential villas
– intensive housing estate
– road construction
– park, a place of rest
• Different land owners
• Different groups
of interest
Photo: REVERS Foundation

11. Social activity for nature protection
• Conflicting land use plans make protests
• Demonstrations against the building Zakrzowek
• There are 15 NGOs in Cracow united on this issue
– Zielony Zakrzowek association (Green Zakrzowek)
• www.zielony.org.pl
– Modraszek kolektyw association
• www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com
Photo: www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com

12. Happenings
• Do not kill Scarce Large Blue!
• Decorate with a hole in the grid
• Picnics with Scarce Large Blue
• Blue manifestation of the City Council
Photo: www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com
Photo: www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com Photo: www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com

13. Happenings
Photo: www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com
Photo: www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com
Photo: www.modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com

14. What will happen next?
​
proposed area of nature and landscape protection

15. Development plans
Human and nature needs – common way?

16. Development plans
Human and nature needs – common way?

17. Green Europe
Youth Exchange, Rustavi, Georgia 2012
Authors:
• Joanna Wilczyńska
• Anna Stańczuk
• Natalia Obajtek
• Łukasz Kwater
• Aleksandra Kluczka
Photo: REVERS Foundation
Green Europe Project coordinator
Rustavi, Georgia 2012 Project funded by REVERS Foundation