30 December 2024
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Olivia Watts from the Field Studies Council introduces one of the marvellous insects that makes a huge journey to the UK every year.
From the mutual blue to the native sulfur , July is a grand month to see a mixture of butterfly fluttering around the garden . Many species outride local throughout the year as the climate is right and everything they need is usable from neighbouring gardens . However , one species – the paint lady – makes a much more arduous journeying in orderliness to visit the UK .
What a beauty
The paint madam ( Vanessa cardui ) is a vibrant butterfly stroke with a wingspan of approximately 5.5 curium ( 2 in ) , boast a bluff mixture of colours . With its wing unresolved , you ’ll see orange patches surrounded with black marking and white smear .
With closed wing , you ’ll see a mixture of scoring indite of black , ashen and browny - orange tree tone . They also have a flimsy hint of loss on their forewing , and some eyespots on their hind wing .
Like all butterfly , the paint lady undergoes a four - stage life cycle : starting spirit as an egg , hatching into a caterpillar , transforming into a pupa , and in the end emerging as an grownup butterfly . Unlike some metal money that complete this cycle once a year , the paint lady will complete it several times , producing multiple broods in different fix .
Magnificent migration
The underside of painted lady wings
Every year the painted lady embarks on an unbelievable migration , covering over 5000 knot ! Starting from the desert fringes of North Africa , this species journeys north through mainland Europe , eventually make Britain and Ireland . However , this epic journey is not complete by a single butterfly . Instead , each generation travel part of the room , with new adult emerging , genteelness , and continuing northward .
arrive in the UK from March onwards , these butterfly stroke are most abundant during the summer months . As a common and far-flung garden visitor , the painted noblewoman is definitely one to watch out for .
However , their numbers can change greatly each year , with ‘ paint lady years ’ occurring about once a 10 . During these effect , a meaning influx of butterflies migrate to the UK and the most recent paint lady year were in 2009 and 2019 , with an guess 11 million butterfly stroke arriving in the UK in 2009 alone !
Painted lady caterpillars
These beautiful butterflies do not delay through the wintertime in the UK . or else , they localise off in autumn to make the monumental journeying back south to warmer climates , ensuring the continuation of their remarkable migratory round for age to come .
ofttimes Asked Questions
Q. What plant life will the paint lady feed on ?
A. As a caterpillar they feed in on a wide of the mark scope of plant , including thistles , mallows , common nettle and viper ’s bugloss . As an adult butterfly , they can be seen nectaring on a wide chain of flower , admit thistles , brambles , buddleja , knapweeds and clover .
Q. How long do the butterfly stroke live for ?
A. The lifespan of an grownup butterfly stroke typically place from 2 – 4 weeks .
Q. I ’ve go out one in my garden , should I read my sighting ?
A. Absolutely ! record sightings of these butterflies , along with other wildlife , helps track their distribution and monitor changes over time . you’re able to submit your track record to iRecord or iNaturalist .
concerned to learn more about butterfly ?
you may bump out more about these fascinating insects with guides and courses provided by the Field Studies Council : www.field - studies - council.org
