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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 17h

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Number of wild bee species at risk of extinction in Europe doubles in 10 years

Number of endangered butterfly species also surging amid habitat destruction and global heating, finds study

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 1d

The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...

Front cover of the European Butterfly Red List, showing Polyommatus humedasae. The report can be downloaded at https://www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?name=red-list-butterflies-2025

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Guardian Environment @environment.theguardian.com · 6d

Fade to grey: as forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours

The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 12d

Check out our new website, packed with new features, including updated project and EU policy pages + butterfly species pages with all known hostplants courtesy of Harry Clarke and downloadable country lists. Big thanks to Peter Eeles @ukbutterflies.bsky.social for all his help www.bc-europe.eu

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Julian Sidney @butterflyjulian.bsky.social · 28d

BBC News - Rare butterfly spotted near Newcastle for first time since 1850 - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Rare butterfly spotted near Newcastle for first time since 1850

The Silver-washed Fritillary has been growing in numbers in County Durham and Teesside.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 28d

A Wall was reported in Woodnewton Northants on 8th September, the first confirmed county record for 16 years!

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Bumblebee Conservation Trust @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social · Sep 12

You can be part of the solution 🤝

Find out more about the Declaration on our website: www.bumblebeeconservation.org/news/declara...

📢 Please share this thread to help build momentum!

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A butterfly and bumblebee feed on a large pink flower.

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · Sep 10

A warm welcome to the Pollinator Academy which is hosting all types of training materials to learn about European pollinators, including our training materials to identify and monitor European butterflies

Pollinator Academy @pollinatoracademy.bsky.social · Sep 10

The Pollinator Academy is an online platform that provides tools and training to help strengthen your knowledge of the taxonomy of European pollinators. Follow us and visit our website to find out more! #PollinatorAcademy #Pollinators #Taxonomy #Bee #Hoverfly #Butterfly Pollinatoracademy.eu

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Mark Tutton @marktutton.bsky.social · Sep 11

Disease-resilient trees improve butterfly habitats www.bbc.com/news/article...

Tonbridge's disease-resilient trees improver butterfly habitats

It is hoped the new trees near Tonbridge will benefit White-letter Hairstreak butterflies.

www.bbc.com

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Aug 28

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘I’m proud of them going out into the world’: Young naturalists on their quest to save harvest mice

Spurred into action by the species’ threatened future, two best friends embarked on a project to release 250 of the animals in Devon

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Steven Wright @stevenwright58.bsky.social · Aug 26

Happily Northants and Beds branch @savebutterflies.bsky.social have liased with the landowner of the Herbal Ley at Old and now it won't be cut until the butterflies have completed this life cycle. And some will be left uncut as an extra insurance. :-).

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Aug 27

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Wild bees visit different flowers to balance diet, study shows

Researchers say findings show need for conservation efforts to focus on nutritional diversity

www.theguardian.com

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Aug 8

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘Top marks’ for sharp-eyed snappers as UK nets new butterfly species

Sightings confirmed in County Durham and Suffolk as southern small white flutters in from European mainland

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Butterfly Conservation - Cambs & Essex @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social · Aug 8

BBC News - Butterfly from Southern Europe spotted in UK for first time - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Butterfly from Southern Europe spotted in UK for first time

Experts have tracked the Southern Small White's expansion northwards through Europe over decades.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Aug 6

Amazing video!

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Guardian Environment @environment.theguardian.com · Aug 1

Monarch butterflies’ mass die off in 2024 caused by pesticide exposure – study

New peer-reviewed research found an average of seven pesticides in each of 10 butterflies tested

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Cath Hodsman @cathhodsman.bsky.social · Jul 19

Did u know? Another excellent plant to have for small souls is Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare).Pollinators love the composite flowers, so they don't have to travel far to get lots of forage & apparently, it has the best quality nectar of any plant in the UK. A real win-win then..Go, grow! 🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🌍🐝🪲🪰🦋

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Dave Goulson @davegoulson.bsky.social · Jul 17

No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree.
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU

No More Beewashing! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees.

YouTube video by Dave Goulson

youtu.be

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield

Dave Goulson @davegoulson.bsky.social · Jul 14

Some tips on how to make your garden more butterfly-friendly:
youtu.be/zNrB8xr_yA4

How to encourage more butterflies into your garden

YouTube video by Dave Goulson

youtu.be

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Jul 14

Chalkhill Blues were the most abundant butterfly at Sharpenhoe today but there were still a few Dark Green Fritillaries around. The flowers, specially the Marjoram, were beautiful & I always love the Woolly Thistles @savebutterflies.bsky.social @midsandeastnt.bsky.social

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Jul 12

Some more photos

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Jul 12

Some years we might get 1 or 2 Brown Argus in our garden but this exceptional year we’re seeing about 8 or 10 on one of our Marjoram plants which is also very popular with the Gatekeepers & many other pollinators @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Jul 12

No not that I can see. I presume there’s something really tasty on the mullein

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Jul 11

Some more photos

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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · Jul 11

The Mullein plants in our garden are absolutely covered in insects - hoverflies, ladybirds, wasps & bugs - but they’re not taking pollen or nectar as far as I can see - does anyone know what they’re feeding on? The flowers have gone over for the day. @willgeorge.bsky.social

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