Britain’s butterfly season may not be over yet, as autumn sunshine could extend what has been one of the best years this century. More species are squeezing in an extra generation before colder weather arrives, thanks to extended warm seasons.
Extra generations on the wing
Small coppers are flying again alongside large and small whites, while red admirals and peacocks are emerging from hibernation to feed on late-flowering buddleia. The two main migratory species, the painted lady and the clouded yellow, are also still active, pausing on their flight back to frost-free southern Europe.
Rare migrant spotted
The most exciting autumn sighting is a third, much rarer migrant: the Queen of Spain fritillary. It has almost certainly been the best ever year in Britain for this orange-brown butterfly, which has dazzling panels of silver on its underside.
Like other migratory butterflies, this species can rapidly produce a new generation of adult butterflies in about eight weeks. If October brings more sunshine, offspring of the Queen of Spains spotted around the south and east coast of England in August will emerge as adult butterflies, complementing the autumn leaves.
