Butterfly Conservation has today (Thursday) revealed a huge surge in sightings of the Red Admiral, a migrant species of butterfly, as the Big Butterfly Count enters its final week.
The Red Admiral is currently flying high with 170,000 sightings reported so far – an impressive increase of 400% on the same period last year.
It is definitely a ‘Red Admiral year’, with people throughout the country reporting seeing the butterfly while taking part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.
The Red Admiral is a familiar and popular butterfly across the UK. It is a garden favourite and found in all types of habitat. However, what may come as a surprise to many is that this small but mighty butterfly is a migrant species, travelling to the UK from North Africa and continental Europe.
Each spring, and continuing through the summer, Red Admirals migrate north where the females lay eggs. Consequently, there is an emergence of fresh butterflies from July onwards. However, in recent years, scientists are seeing an indication that numbers have increased, and that the species is now overwintering in the UK, particularly in the South of England.
With temperatures increasing, the Red Admiral’s need to return to its southerly winter habitat is reducing, which means it is possible we will see a greater number of the species spending the winter in the UK.
This year’s early results show why the Big Butterfly Count is so important in helping scientists to understand how the weather and changing climate are affecting butterflies.
Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation explains:
“We’ve been surprised to see the Red Admiral taking the lead, however with the increased frequency of warm weather, the UK may well become a permanent home for this species.
“The results so far show just how vital the Big Butterfly Count is. We couldn’t get the depth and breadth of data we’re collecting without the help of the general public. We’re calling on people across the UK to please get out for the Count and record your butterfly sightings over the next few days. With climate change here to stay, we need people to take part more than ever before and help us understand how extreme weather is affecting our butterflies.”
The Big Butterfly Count runs until Sunday (6th August) and scientists at Butterfly Conservation are keen to see whether the influx of Red Admirals continues, and how they are dispersed around the UK.
For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.
Let’s extend no mow May. Whilst the month gave food to wildlife MOST butterflies etc USE those in strimmed plants to lay eggs which turn into chrysalis all taking MORE than a month.
So if we want to increase wildlife then need to leave CERTAIN areas for far longer
Not mowing is intended to provide floral resources for pollinators not food plants for insect larvae. Few (if any) butterfly larvae food plants are likely to be growing in your lawn. It is better to have a permanent wild area in your garden where nettles and other food plants can thrive.
I assume the poster was referring to the Council’s leaving of certain verges, and graveyards, (as was done I think in Bembridge) and other areas where leaving well established indigenous plants, which are the food and nursery for many insects and butterflies and moths.
IF so that would give a huge boost to numbers for the following year.
Otherwise is is like Band Aid feeding the millions of starving black Adults but then cutting off the crops planted for their young.
Time is needed to provide the necessary time scale of Butterfly-Eggs-Caterpillars-Chrysalis cycle otherwise feeding the parent and beating to a much the young of next year.
Lawns are not, as you say such a problem, but long established grass and flora is.