Cold spring delays butterfly season
Butterflies are emerging weeks later than usual as a result of the cold spring, conservationists have said.
Rare spring species such as grizzled skippers, pearl-bordered fritillaries and wood whites have been up to a month late after a lingering winter which saw the second coldest March on record followed by an icy start to April
Spring butterflies are now on the wing, but experts warned bad weather over the coming month could hit species already struggling in the face of long-term declines and a poor breeding season last year as a result of cold, wet conditions.
The grizzled skipper emerged a month later than last year, while the pearl-bordered fritillary was was on the wing by April 1 last year, but was not recorded until April 27 this year, Butterfly Conservation said. The endangered wood white was not seen until early May this year, much later than last year when it was spotted on April 10, according to sightings submitted to the conservation charity.
The Duke of Burgundy butterfly did not put in an appearance until late April, around three weeks later than last year.
Richard Fox, Butterfly Conservation surveys manager, said the late appearance of the butterflies was not in itself a bad thing, as many of the plants they depend on to lay their eggs have also been delayed as a result of the cold spring.
Now they have emerged, the spring species need some fine weather to help them breed and reverse the results of the poor breeding year they suffered last year when the country experienced one of its wettest ever spring and summer periods. But forecasts are suggesting some unsettled weather over the next few weeks, with cooler than average temperatures, rain and windy conditions in many places in the coming days.
Mr Fox said: “These butterflies are around as species for the next month, but if we have constant gales and crucially rain, as many people have said in the last few days, that’s going to have a really serious impact as the adult butterflies can’t do their job of reproduction in those conditions. If the weather is very poor and temperatures are low they are inactive.”
He warned: “All of theses species have undergone long-term declines as a result of habitat destruction and the way humans have managed the landscape and countryside to the detriment of wildlife. Then many of them suffered a bad year last year because of the appalling spring and summer. If it’s going to be the same this year, that is more bad news.”
Last year’s washout summer was the worst year on record for UK butterflies, with most species suffering declines. But Butterfly Conservation said it was now a good time to get out and see butterflies, with spring species on the wing and the charity’s Save Our Butterflies week (May 18-26) which will include a series of UK-wide events highlighting conservation efforts to reverse declines in the insects.
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