Four additional zones, which I have been keep an eye on alongside the three main zones, have seen some drastic changes up until this week. All of those affected zones, as of 08 March, 2025, are expected to decline further, meaning that 2025 will be the last season in which I'll make an effort to observe species developments within those areas that will be downgraded to "random observations only".
As mentioned in my status gemfile, the addtional zone "Mixed Fodder Beet / Alfalfa Field" has shrunk by 50%, with its norther part, where I was observing all documented butterflies, having been incorporated into the neighboring wheat field. No fodder beet was planted since 2023 onward, so only alfalfa remained until the end of season 2024. As the southern part so far has largely failed to attract insects in general and also borders on a growing wheat field, it likely will disappear by the end of 2025, as well.
I'll continue to monitor it for this season to figure out whether those species that occupied the northern part will migrate to other areas or vanish entirely.
This zone already was noted by me to likely not be monitored this year due to the demolition work nearby. Although those have been completed, the meadow itself has not attracted any butterflies in 2024 and a neighboring butterfly bush recently has been cut down. This butterfly bush was one out of two bushes A. urticae has been observed to be fully dependent on whilst also attracting other species such as P. icarus.
The cemetery itself does not offer anything beyond one grave covered in lavender that managed to attract P. napi in 2023. Most observations of other species were made near its entrance which neighbors a private garden. This garden's fence was "supported" by various trees and bushes which managed to attract C. argiolus and P. coridon in 2024. With all of those trees and bushes following the path to the entrance gone, it is highly unlikely that even V. atalanta, which was always "jumping" between those trees, will return.
This particular zone only has been of interest due to a small population of C. splendens. In the first week of March, 2025, the willow that got knocked over by a storm in late April, 2023, yet remained alive, was removed almost entirely, with only the root and 50 centimeters of its trunk remaining in its spot. One villager (a local farmer and politician) complained about the "hideous sight", whereas two other villagers voiced their disapproval of his opinion, appreciating the willow.
But not only the willow has been removed; the smaller willows following the stream have been cut back radically and three other trees providing shade to the swamp-like biotope several meters behind the bridge have been removed, fully exposing the stream to the sun now. Additionally a new home across the stream installed a pipe that lets rainwater but also unfiltered urine and excrement flow directly into this swamp-like spot. Another, much older pipe next to it has been out of use since the owner of a house next to the new one passed away.
And while this protected part has been exposed to such a degree that water flow has become significantly faster – fast enough for damselflies to dislike it – and also now acts as a free cesspool, the stream remains in a neglected state between this exposed area and the FFH territory "Bog Hill".