Forum Topic

See, global warming is not all bad.

"Red admiral butterfly population soars 400% in UK as winters warm"https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/03/red-admiral-butterfly-population-uk-sightings-winters-warm-climateI just knew that there had to be something good about it.

David Ainsworth ● 915d3 Comments

https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/assets/charts/butterfly-id-sheet-england.pdf

Philippa Bond ● 905d

Although it is technically over this year if you'd like to lnow more there is dome info here - and you may be able to still download the free ID chart.  It's a chance for you/the kids/the grand kids to ID some of the butterflies we enjoy seeing in the summer:www.thebigbutterfly-conservation.org

Philippa Bond ● 911d

I saw the most peacock butterflies ever last week in a garden with buddleia. I'd only seen a couple in the last 20 years.  I also saw some red admirals and some whites.  I've mostly only seen large whites and a few blues.  No tortoiseshells, no commas and no painted ladies at all - of which there are usually lots.  We need to remember that butterflies feed on some plants but lay their eggs on other ones on which their caterpillars feed.  At least four 'British' butterflies lay their eggs on nettle plants.  People's increasing intolerance of nettle plants and other wild or uncultivated plants together with use and overuse of chemicals is contributing to the loss of caterpillars and butterflies and other insects which are also of course food for birds and other animals ie a bigger picture.

Philippa Bond ● 911d