butterfly bonanza

[Paul (ELG)]

Colin writes of the four adult-stage overwintering species here in the UK,
and  it's nice to see them as early spring approaches, but not unusual.
However there has been a number of sightings recently of Vanessa atalanta,
particularly in the Hastings area of England.

Debate has raged over the years as to whether this species actually
over-winters in the UK - it probably DOES NOT, but mild winters such as we
have just experienced here may allow the larvae to survive, feeding up over
a longer period, producing very early sightings of the adults.  These may
or may not then be reinforced by early migrations from Europe to produce,
what we then call, a good Red Admiral year in the UK.

As English winters appear to be milder recently and the trend appears to be
set to continue, we may see more early sightings of V.atalanta in years to
come.

Paul Batty

----------
> From: colinjacobs <colina.jacobs at ukgateway.net>
> To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: butterfly bonanza
> Date: 19 March 2000 19:18
> 
> Here in Lowestoft, Suffolk Great Britain it looks as though we are in for
a
> good butterfly year. At Somerleyton Suffolk today There were three Comma
> Butterflies (Polygoniac-album) & a Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
> 
> In North Lowestoft Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni) have been seen too.
along
> with Peacocks (Inachis io)
> 
> Colin Jacobs.
> 
>