Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by UK Butterflies

martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 3h

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

1 31 48

Reposted by UK Butterflies

Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 11d

It also has a Donate button if you want to support our work saving butterflies and moths across Europe

2 4

Reposted by UK Butterflies

Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 11d

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

1 13 38

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Sep 5

"Only a fool will go chasing a male Orange-tip in the heat of the day!" (Paul Atkin) ... we're having a debate at UK Butterflies that will allow us to create a 'Guide to Responsible Butterfly Photography' so do join the conversation at www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB/viewto.... 📷 Neil Freeman

8 29

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 27

Hi Richard - the key diagnostic is found on the upperside hindwing although, based on your photo, I'd suggest that this is L. maera which has a paler underside (and is larger) than L. petropolitana.

1 3

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 26

Another way of thinking about it is, in the absence of Cotesia glomerata, the numbers of Large White would get out of control and you wouldn't have any cabbage with your Sunday roast 😀 These types of relationships are so important to maintaining a delicate balance! Great photos of the parasitoid!

2

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 25

I believe that the two subspecies can be separated based on appearance - at least, britannicus can be separated from whatever subspecies is found near us in mainland Europe (there's some dispute about this!)

1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 25

Might be worth rearing it through for more certainty regarding subspecies

1 1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 25

I can't find any mention of Fennel being used in the wild by ssp. britannicus, although it will take it in captivity. The location would suggest britannicus and this should be documented (e.g. in Ent. Rec.)

1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 25

Magpie moth

1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 19

Nice find! This looks like an intermediate form between helice and the normal form. All abs are listed at www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/aberrations...., but there's no obvious match.

www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 15

A female Large White :)

1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 10

Hi William - and congrats! We're keen to ensure that this sighting is recorded in an appropriate entomological journal (such as the Entomologist's Record) so that it can be formally added to the Checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles. Do contact me for more info ([email protected]).

1 2 3

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 9

Yes - Green-veined White

1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Aug 8

Here's our concise summary of events regarding the Southern Small White - keep yer eyes peeled! ... www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/webpage.php?...

5 38

Reposted by UK Butterflies

Butterfly Conservation Suffolk @bc-suffolk.bsky.social · Aug 3

Congratulations to William Brame @landguardbirder.bsky.social for realising this was a different white butterfly. Now confirmed by @chrisvanswaay.bsky.social as a Southern Small White - the first seen in England. As it is a female let's hope it has been laying eggs. @matthewberry.bsky.social

William Brame @landguardbirder.bsky.social · Aug 3

@chrisvanswaay.bsky.social

26 120

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 27

Nearest "known" colonies :)

2

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 26

Given the weather today, we focused on the ecological aspects of our butterfly fauna; geology (chalk, clay, sand/gravel), habitats (grassland, woodland, heathland), flora and fauna. Here are some of the butterfly eggs we examined - White Admiral, Small Blue and Small Copper (library pics).

1 8 46

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 26

Thanks for coming along, Nicola, and I look forward to our next meet!

1 2

Reposted by UK Butterflies

Nicola Chester @nicolawriting.bsky.social · Jul 26

Enjoyed a fantastic walk guided by the hugely knowledgeable Peter Eeles, over a neighbouring estate doing extraordinarily good & innovative things for wildlife. Truly exciting. Learning to spot caterpillar webs in the fields, & tiny white admiral larvae in the woods! @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

A honeysuckle leaf nibbled by a white admiral butterfly larvae, to leave a long midrib

Tiny white admiral larvae on a nibbled leaf

2 2 23

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 19

Dark Green Fritillary

1

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 17

That's certainly one of its larval foodplants 😜

1 2

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 17

Contributors are listed here - thank you all! ... www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/contributors...

UK Butterflies - Contributors

www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

3

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 17

When I started UK Butterflies in 2002, I had no idea that it would attract such interest! This is a 'shout out' to Vince Massimo, who has spent over 2 decades curating our image library from over 450 contributors. This recent image from Neil Freeman did make me laugh - name that species!

5 5 52

UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 17

Yes - female Silver-washed Fritillary

1