Warm weather has sparked an explosion of Painted Lady butterflies across the UK this summer, with conservationists describing it as a “once-in-a-decade phenomenon”. The influx, dubbed a “Painted Lady Summer”, has seen clouds of the exotic insects fluttering across the country, thanks to the warm spring.
Butterfly Conservation has reported that the numbers already dwarf those from last year. Professor Richard Fox, the charity’s head of science, said: “The inter-continental migration of Painted Lady butterflies is a wonder of the natural world and one of the longest insect journeys on the planet. The new generation is emerging across the UK right now prior to flying the next leg of the species’ epic journey.”
The last Painted Lady Summer occurred in 2019, when more than 420,000 were recorded by the public. In contrast, last year’s total was just 15,856. The charity is urging people to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count, which runs from July 17 to August 9, to help monitor the phenomenon.
Kate Merry, Butterfly Conservation’s head of engagement, said: “This is a very exciting and unexpected twist to this year’s Big Butterfly Count. It’s astonishing that such a seemingly delicate insect can accomplish this incredible long-distance journey.” Participants can report sightings via the free Big Butterfly Count app or at www.bigbutterflycount.org.
