Butterfly Conservation
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
3.5K followers 120 following 360 posts
The official account for UK wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation. Saving butterflies, moths and our environment. 🦋 https://butterfly-conservation.org/ Cover photo 📷: Small Copper - Paul Henson
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savebutterflies.bsky.social
Butterflies need two things to thrive: good weather and a healthy environment ☀️🌱

Join us in asking UK retailers to remove synthetic pesticides from sale for a wilder, butterfly-filled future for generations to come 👉 https://butterflyemergency.good.do/rescue-mission/
A hand wearing a white glove, spraying pesticides over a yellow flower and white butterfly, set against a black background. Large text overlay has the word 'weed' crossed out and 'Butterfly Killer' underneath. Smaller text below reads: 'Call on UK retailers to halt the sale of butterfly-harming chemicals. Sign our open letter.' Butterfly Conservation logo features at the top of the graphic.
savebutterflies.bsky.social
For a longer-term solution, encourage predators that feed on aphids, such as birds, beetles and bats, by creating wildflower patches and providing nesting and hiding spaces.

Try growing flowers such as Michaelmas Daisy and Fennel that attract hoverflies, beetles and ladybirds. 🐞
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Most common garden problems can be solved without the need for harmful chemicals 🧪❌

For aphids, try using a hose attachment to spray them off, or simply removing them with a cloth.
Butterfly Conservation's guide to gardening without pesticides: Aphids. Graphic shows a hose spraying aphids off a plant with water. Text reads: 'Most aphids can be sprayed off with a hose. Encourage predators by growing flowers such as Michaelmas Daisy and Fennel that attract hoverflies, beetles and ladybirds.'
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Together with partners, we've managed 8,510 hectares of habitat for butterflies and moths across the UK over the past year - that's equivalent to over 12,000 football pitches!

Find out more about our conservation projects 👉 butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/con...

📷: Iain H Leach
Northern Brown Argus butterfly on Common Rock Rose
savebutterflies.bsky.social
As a mature plant it will begin to flower, providing a vital source of nectar for pollinators, including butterflies and moths, later in the year when other sources of nectar are limited. Its berries are then enjoyed by birds and small mammals during the colder months. ❄️

📷: Iain H Leach
A green and black patterned Merveille du Jour moth, feeding on flowering ivy
savebutterflies.bsky.social
In its juvenile stage, Ivy can provide shelter for adult butterflies and moths, bats and nesting birds. It is also a foodplant for the caterpillars of several moth and butterfly species such as the Holly Blue.

📷: Peter Eeles
Tiny green caterpillar feeding on an ivy flower bud
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Let's hear it for Ivy!

An often misunderstood plant, but one which has incredible benefits for wildlife. 🦋🐝🐦
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Last year saw 10 amazing young people aged between 16-25 joining our first-ever Youth Panel!

Since then, the panel have spoken up for nature and youth empowerment at marches and events, attended residentials and launched their first Zine 👉 https://butterfly-conservation.org/youth-panel
11 members of Butterfly Conservation's Youth Panel, some standing and some crouching together outside, smiling at the camera and making a butterfly shape with their hands. 5 Youth Panel members and Youth Engagment Officer excitedly gathered around a moth trap Youth Panel members and Youth Engagement Officer out on a bat walk at dusk. The Youth Engagement Officer is pointing out something in the sky. Youth Panel members are pointing and look at a colourful flower border.
Reposted by Butterfly Conservation
sarahsramblings.bsky.social
Lots of butterflies in the sunshine yesterday along the Waveney Valley. Plenty of whites, Small Heath, Common Blue, Red Admiral plus two that settled for long enough & caught with the phone camera, a worn Small Copper and Speckled Wood @bc-suffolk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Butterfly Conservation
bcwarwickshire.bsky.social
Common Blue, Peacock, Speckled Wood & Green-veined white butterflies all seen yesterday by the volunteer work party at Ettington Cutting. Though the highlight was a Clouded Yellow! #butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Clouded Yellow butterfly nectaring on a yellow hawkweed. Photo by Tony Penycate. Clouded Yellow butterfly perched on a dried flower heads. Photo by Tony Penycate.
Reposted by Butterfly Conservation
scotlink.bsky.social
We're pleased that the @parliament.scot Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has backed proposals in the Natural Environment Bill to introduce statutory targets to restore nature.

Nature targets are a key demand of our Scotland Loves Nature campaign.

Read more:
www.scotlink.org/msps-back-na...
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Hello October! Or should that be Moth-tober? 🎃🦋

With autumn well underway, keep an eye out for these butterflies and moths in your gardens and local green spaces.
Butterfly Conservation's Butterflies and Moths to see in October: Speckled Wood, Brimstone moth, Comma, Frosted Orange, Peacock, Angle Shades, Red Admiral, Light Emerald, and Wall.
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Slugs and snails do important jobs in the garden, breaking down plant matter and providing food for other wildlife 🐌

To prevent slugs from eating certain plants, protect them with grit, cloches and hand removing any you find.

Create a pond to attract slug-munching frogs.
Butterfly Conservation's guide to gardening without pesticides: Slugs & Snails. Graphic of a snail on the outside of a glass cloche, covering a green leafy vegetable. Text reads: 'Did you know slugs and snails recycle plant matter and are a tasty snack for other wildlife? Protect plants with grit, cloches and hand removing any you find. Create a pond to attract frogs for natural slug control."
Reposted by Butterfly Conservation
ryanclarkecology.bsky.social
It's impossible not to love the Merveille du Jour. Just incredible moths! #MothsMatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social
savebutterflies.bsky.social
The Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) knows how to make a statement 🤩

Keep an eye out for this flashy moth in woodland, parkland, scrub, riverbanks and gardens.

📷: Iain H Leach, Will Langdon, David Green
#MothMonday #MothsMatter
A large grey moth with striking red and black underwings, resting on a green leaf A Red Underwing moth, its wings blurred in action, against a background of red autumn leaves. A long, grey caterpillar resting on a thin branch
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Over the past year, we've helped 2,443 children get involved in creating #WildSpaces for butterflies and moths in their school grounds 🌱🏫

Hear more from Wild Spaces Project Officer Angus and the schools involved 👉 https://youtu.be/wr_bFhubgC4?feature=shared

#HeritageFund
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Only a few tickets left for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme 50th Anniversary Conference!

We're looking forward to celebrating 50 incredible years of butterfly monitoring and volunteer achievement. 🎉🦋

Book your free place 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-butterf...
#UKBMS50
Promotional banner for the UKBMS 50th Anniversary Conference featuring the logos of Butterfly Conservation, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, BTO, and JNCC. The banner includes an image of a White Admiral butterfly on the right side.
Reposted by Butterfly Conservation
wildtara.bsky.social
The sun was shining while we worked on the grassland banks at Newton 5 Arches Wildlife site today. 6 species of butterflies recorded - Peacock, Small Copper, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Large White & Red Admiral. #butterflies #Rugby @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social
List of butterflies recorded on iRecord Common Blue on grass Peacock on devils-bit Scabious Small Copper on Devils bit scabious
Reposted by Butterfly Conservation
wildphotoscot.bsky.social
Humming bird hawk moth in Edinburgh today. 1st sighting for me this year & pure luck as it popped up in my sister's garden! Absolute nightmare to photograph as its so mobile/fast but managed a few shots. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #moth #Edinburgh
Reposted by Butterfly Conservation
alisonlock25.bsky.social
Delighted to finally come across a comma #butterfly yesterday in the early autumn sun 🤩, nectaring on some creeping thistle -east central Scotland #wildwebswednesday #leptember @savebutterflies.bsky.social
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Here's something to brighten your Monday 💛

The comical-looking Canary-shouldered Thorn has pale orange-brown wings with scalloped edges, allowing them to blend in perfectly with the autumn foliage.

📷: Kate Reece, Iain H Leach, Will Langdon
#MothMonday #MothsMatter
A bright yellow fuzzy moth with feathered antennae, facing directly at the camera while perched on a branch Canary-shouldered Thorn moth resting on a lichen-covered branch Canary-shouldered Thorn moth doing an excellent impression of the autumn leaf it's resting next to on a branch, against a black background
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Celebrating 50 years of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme! 🎉

Join us for a day of butterfly talks, workshops and a celebration of volunteer citizen science. Book your free place 👉 buff.ly/tsGqc4S

📸: Iain H Leach
#UKBMS50
White Admiral butterfly on bramble flowers