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British butterfly numbers bounce back following warm summer British butterfly numbers bounce back following warm summer
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Butterflies have bounced back this year after the worst summer on record in 2012. But gardeners may not be so delighted: the cabbage-munching large and small whites were the two most numerous insects in the world's largest butterfly count.Butterflies have bounced back this year after the worst summer on record in 2012. But gardeners may not be so delighted: the cabbage-munching large and small whites were the two most numerous insects in the world's largest butterfly count.
These two white species saw numbers rise by 300% in the Big Butterfly Count, as a record-breaking 46,000 people recorded more than 830,000 butterflies and day-flying moths from the Scillies to the Shetland Islands. The six-week count in July and August, organised by Butterfly Conservation and supported by Marks & Spencer, recorded four times as many butterflies as in 2012, the worst year for species since records began nearly 40 years ago.These two white species saw numbers rise by 300% in the Big Butterfly Count, as a record-breaking 46,000 people recorded more than 830,000 butterflies and day-flying moths from the Scillies to the Shetland Islands. The six-week count in July and August, organised by Butterfly Conservation and supported by Marks & Spencer, recorded four times as many butterflies as in 2012, the worst year for species since records began nearly 40 years ago.
While the caterpillars of the large and small white have a fondness for cabbages and sprouts that exasperates many gardeners, numbers of old favourites also surged. Once-common garden species the peacock and the small tortoiseshell butterfly returned to buddleia and lavender across Britain. Small tortoiseshell numbers rose by 388% compared to 2012 with the peacock coming a surprise third in the count after its numbers surged by more than 3,500%.While the caterpillars of the large and small white have a fondness for cabbages and sprouts that exasperates many gardeners, numbers of old favourites also surged. Once-common garden species the peacock and the small tortoiseshell butterfly returned to buddleia and lavender across Britain. Small tortoiseshell numbers rose by 388% compared to 2012 with the peacock coming a surprise third in the count after its numbers surged by more than 3,500%.
Richard Fox, surveys manager for Butterfly Conservation, described the summer of 2013 as "a ray of hope" for our butterflies.Richard Fox, surveys manager for Butterfly Conservation, described the summer of 2013 as "a ray of hope" for our butterflies.
"It has been a truly memorable summer for butterflies, a wonderful spectacle for the many thousands of people who've helped with the Big Butterfly Count and a lifeline to the UK's hard pressed butterfly populations," he said. "It reminds us that butterflies are resilient and will thrive given good weather and suitable habitats.""It has been a truly memorable summer for butterflies, a wonderful spectacle for the many thousands of people who've helped with the Big Butterfly Count and a lifeline to the UK's hard pressed butterfly populations," he said. "It reminds us that butterflies are resilient and will thrive given good weather and suitable habitats."
But Fox warned that sunny weather was not enough for butterflies to do well because scientists had proven that habitat loss – and not vagaries of the weather – is the cause of long-term declines in butterfly populations.But Fox warned that sunny weather was not enough for butterflies to do well because scientists had proven that habitat loss – and not vagaries of the weather – is the cause of long-term declines in butterfly populations.
"The weather is not new to the butterflies. What the butterflies weren't expecting was that humans would invent industrialised farming 50 years ago and transform vast swaths of British countryside that hadn't changed much for 1,000 years. We're not asking to turn back the clock to some rural idyll but seeking to conserve species and habitats that we have as our heritage.""The weather is not new to the butterflies. What the butterflies weren't expecting was that humans would invent industrialised farming 50 years ago and transform vast swaths of British countryside that hadn't changed much for 1,000 years. We're not asking to turn back the clock to some rural idyll but seeking to conserve species and habitats that we have as our heritage."
The online survey asked people to record 21 common butterfly species but many volunteers recorded a rarer species. The silver-washed fritillary was an exciting visitor to many gardens for the first time. This big, golden butterfly is enjoying a remarkable renaissance and is recolonising many places in the south-east from where it has been extinct for 50 years.The online survey asked people to record 21 common butterfly species but many volunteers recorded a rarer species. The silver-washed fritillary was an exciting visitor to many gardens for the first time. This big, golden butterfly is enjoying a remarkable renaissance and is recolonising many places in the south-east from where it has been extinct for 50 years.
Another more exotic sighting has been thousands of clouded yellows, migratory butterflies which have arrived from the continent. More are still arriving this autumn.Another more exotic sighting has been thousands of clouded yellows, migratory butterflies which have arrived from the continent. More are still arriving this autumn.
Although 15 of the 21 common species increased in 2013, with 12 enjoying big gains of at least 50%, not every butterfly has enjoyed the sunshine. Three grass-feeding species which thrived with the rain and lush grass growth last summer – the meadow brown, ringlet and marbled white – have fallen in number.Although 15 of the 21 common species increased in 2013, with 12 enjoying big gains of at least 50%, not every butterfly has enjoyed the sunshine. Three grass-feeding species which thrived with the rain and lush grass growth last summer – the meadow brown, ringlet and marbled white – have fallen in number.
Big Butterfly Count 2013 – top 10 species rankingBig Butterfly Count 2013 – top 10 species ranking
1 Small white (154,438 seen)1 Small white (154,438 seen)
2 Large white (136,944)2 Large white (136,944)
3 Peacock (130,796)3 Peacock (130,796)
4 Meadow brown (88,547)4 Meadow brown (88,547)
5 Gatekeeper (76,935)5 Gatekeeper (76,935)
6 Small tortoiseshell (49,418)6 Small tortoiseshell (49,418)
7 Green-veined white (38,988)7 Green-veined white (38,988)
8 Ringlet (31,206)8 Ringlet (31,206)
9 Six-spot burnet [a day-flying moth] (18,681)9 Six-spot burnet [a day-flying moth] (18,681)
10 Comma (17,230)10 Comma (17,230)
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