Record Numbers of Red Admiral Butterflies

Record Numbers of Red Admiral Butterflies

Butterfly Conservation has reported a surprising increase in numbers of Red Admiral Butterflies as the Big Butterfly Count comes to an end!

With 170,000 sightings, up 400% on last year!

 

I have never seen so many in my garden. They especially seem to love my late flowering Aliums, Drumsticks, (Alium sphaerocephalon) and feasting on the fallen apples in the orchard

The increase in numbers of this butterfly is yet another sign of climate change and its effect on the behaviour of a species

This migrant butterfly would travel to the UK from North Africa and Continental Europe, however in recent years, with rising temperatures the Red Admiral can now overwinter in the UK, rather than flying to warmer shores. Previously this species would fly to Britain in order to breed in the Spring, and then return to its southerly Winter habitat. This explains the greater number of Red Admirals this Summer. And shows the importance of the data submitted by volunteers in Citizen Science Projects such as the Big Butterfly Count