It's Been A Fantastic Summer for Butterflies and Moths

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Silver Washed Fritillary - Photograph by Heather Newman

My previous blog was entitled 'It's Been A Good Year For The Orchids', well if it's been a good year for the orchids it has been an outstanding year for the phylum Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).
It would appear that a combination of a wet, mild winter with very few frosts and a warm dry spring and summer has been perfect for wild flowers and, therefore, perfect for butterflies. It's a very long time since I have seen a summer with such an abundance of wild flowers and insect life and, as I am constantly reminded by my family, I've seen quite a few (summers).

Burnett Moth on Ragwort - Photograph Ian Newman

Scarlet Tiger Moth - Photo Ian Newman

Magpie Moth - Photograph Ian Newman

The Cornish coast has been a riot of wild flowers and insect life this year. Moths are widely regarded by 'non-entomologists' to be the dowdy poor relations of the butterflies, but the 'daytime moths' seen on the coast path have been an absolute joy.

Small Blue Butterfly - photo Ian Newman

Our daughter, Heather, has been involved in reintroduction programmes for some rare species of butterfly as part of her work on Holnicote Estate on Exmoor. Check out her Facebook page; 'Heather's Holnicote Diary'.

If this has stimulated your interest in butterflies and you would like to be involved in their conservation check out the Big Butterfly Count which ends on August 10.