Butterflies
Butterflies
The Big Butterfly Count needs you ! People are being invited to help count butterflies this summer as part of a major citizen science survey to help conservation efforts.Ā
People need to count butterflies for 15 minutes on a sunny day during the count time period (between 14 July to 6 August) and submit their findings, which will then be available to view on an interactive map. Taking place in the middle of school holidays, the survey is a great summer holiday activity for budding conservationists.
The Big Butterfly Count is the largest butterfly survey globally. Last year over 100,000 people ā so-called ācitizen scientistsā ā took part. The data generated will help the charity Butterfly Conservation to identify trends in the butterfly populationĀ
See how many of this top ten of thoseĀ likely round here, that you can find....
Expect to see this dappled butterfly in dappled parts of the woodland. It almost mimics the light/shade of the undergrowth.
These are common, and fly in open ground. They have a row of white dots on underside to help distinguish from Gatekeeper...
Often seen in same area as Meadow Brown and Ringlet (below), along hedgerows, and as its name suggests, near gateways.
Common, and we are hoping for more as their larvae feed on nettles, and we have a lot of them!
Again their larvae like nettles. It gets its name from a white 'comma' marking on the underside when at rest looking like a leaf. They are getting rarer, so keep a look out..
Often seen early in the year, flying in and out of the woodland. Male with orange tips, females black tips
7.Ringlet
IĀ saw this one in the open ground just near the Vale entrance where all the purple knapweed is growing.
It bobs around in dull weather when others rest, and likes bramble and damp grassland, where I saw it.
Newly emerged it is velvety with white border.Ā
This attempt to capture a butterfly in a photo suggested that others could do better! As part of the counting, we could get our 'budding conservationists' to take pictures - and submit to our photo competition.
Cabbage Whites
Then there are those 'cabbage whites' flapping about looking for our brassicas to lay their eggs on so their larvae can chew our sprouts, cauliflower and cabbages. They are about!
These strong flyers have back wing tips, and the females also have two spots on forewingĀ
9.Small White
Feeble flyer, smaller black tips and 1 or 2 spots. Common
Similar to small white, often with blackish wing tips and similar spots, butĀ veins show. Prefers damp areas.
You will not see this. It is the 'extinct' black-veined white butterfly that is being spotted this year in S.E London for the first time. MoreĀ
