Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) by zoo-logic
Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) by zoo-logic
There have been so many butterflies on our buddleia this summer! The peacocks seem to have disappeared now and have given way to these beautiful red admirals enjoying the sunshine (when we get some).
Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) by zoo-logic
European peacock butterfly (Inachis io) by zoo-logic
Captured while doing a survey for the Big Butterfly Count 2012 - get involved!
Butterflies react very quickly to change in their environment which makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife losses.
That’s why counting butterflies can be described as taking the pulse of nature.
The count will also assist us in identifying trends in species that will help us plan how to protect butterflies from extinction, as well as understand the effect of climate change on wildlife.
Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather during the big butterfly count. We have chosen this time of year because most butterflies are at the adult stage of their lifecycle, so more likely to be seen. Records are welcome from anywhere: from parks, school grounds and gardens, to fields and forests.
