Highland Butterflies – Ray Colliers Wildlife in the North

peacock butterflyThis year has been very disappointing for butterfly enthusiasts in the Highlands. It was, perhaps, typified by the long awaited “invasion” of painted lady butterflies that just did not happen. The signs were all there for a repeat of the last such invasion in 2009. In that year it was estimated that around ten million painted ladies invaded Britain and that included the Highlands. That year they even went as far north as Iceland! This year the build up on the continent showed all the signs but then, although some were seen in England, they were few and far between in the Highlands. The invasion just did not materialise because of the weather conditions. When the news of the invasion came out in the press we planned the garden accordingly. The Buddleias were trimmed back and moved into sunnier positions so that there were blossoms in sunshine whatever the time of day. Scabious, in their comparatively small pots, were also moved around and new plants bought in along with some more chives. Both these attracted butterflies earlier in the year so we had high hopes that were dashed as the weeks went by. Late in the summer there were a few Scotch argus and meadow browns along roadside verges in the strath. However, none came into the garden that was colourful with the display of nectar filled blossoms. Some of the Buddleias were the tallest we have grown and there were cascades of varying colours of blossoms, all to no avail.

After such a poor summer for butterflies the only hope now is some sunny weather during the rest of the Autumn. Then there will be the possibility of three butterflies coming to the flowers in the garden. Two of these, the large and colourful peacock and small tortoiseshell will survive the winter by hibernating as adults. The third, the red admiral, is still open to doubt as to whether they can survive the weather this far north. Any other types of butterflies cannot survive as adults and most of them will over-winter as a chrysalis. The peacock butterfly has only over wintered as adults in recent years as formerly it was only a vagrant to the Highlands. Then the famous “invasion” of peacocks took place in September 2002 and they managed to over-winter as adults and have been residents ever since.

The peacock, shown in the photograph, has a quite remarkable way of avoiding predators. The first line of defence is nothing more than when the butterfly settles on the bark of a tree. With the wings folded the pattern so resembles its background that it’s camouflage is very successful making it almost invisible. The second line of defence is that, if disturbed, the butterfly flashes its wings open and the sudden appearance of the “eyes” on the wings can be frightening. Lastly, but not least, the butterfly will rub together the hindwings and forewings and this produces a hissing noise that even we can hear.

Small tortoiseshells are, in the main, resident in the UK but in some years migration occurs from the Continent. In the south there are two broods of butterflies a year but in the colder north, such as the Highlands, there is only one brood. The colder weather has another affect as some of the butterflies are dusky individuals rather like the Scandinavian form. At one time the small tortoiseshells were by far the commonest butterflies in places such as gardens. In recent years the numbers have declined and nobody knows why although a parasite from the Continent is suspected. Let us just hope for sunny and warm conditions in September to “rescue” this year for butterflies.

Tags: