Nature & Environment
British Butterflies Drop In Lowest Number Mysteriously This Summer
Elaine Hannah
First Posted: Oct 11, 2016 04:20 AM EDT
The Big Butterfly Count has just recorded the lowest number of the British butterflies this summer. The said adoring butterflies are mysteriously declining despite the summer season.
The scientists described the population of the British butterflies at their lowest number as shocking and mysterious. Richard Fox of Butterfly Conservation said that the drop in butterfly numbers this summer has been a shock. "When we have cold, wet summers, as in 2012, we expect butterfly populations to plummet, but that wasn't the case this year."
Fox further explained that the summer months were warmer than usual. On the other hand, the Big Butterfly Count, which is the annual citizen science insect survey, saw the butterflies in lowest number. He also said that the very mild winter, or the cold spring, the impact of intensive farming and pesticides are causing the decline of the British butterflies.
According to Farming UK, the British butterflies' species like the Comma, Gatekeeper and Small Copper were down by 46 percent, 40 percent and 30 percent respectively compared to last year. Meanwhile, the Small Tortoiseshell drops by 47 percent and the Peacock by 42 percent. These species recorded their second worst years. The colorful Peacock has a six-fold decrease over three years.
On the other hand, based on the survey the red admiral species has increased in numbers by 70 percent compared to 2015. This is the largest year on year increase of any species. Another growing in number is the green-veined white by 58 percent. It was topped by the large white with an increase of 2 percent, according to the Guardian.
Fox explained that the cause of the decline of the British butterflies could be the recent extreme weather event that is unusually mild winter. He further explained that caterpillars appeared from hibernation during the warm winter and then diminished in the colder than average spring. On the other hand, scientific studies about the impact of mild winters must be conducted.
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TagsBritish butterflies, lowest number, Dry Season, Summer, mild winter, Pesticides, intensive farming ©2024 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
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First Posted: Oct 11, 2016 04:20 AM EDT
The Big Butterfly Count has just recorded the lowest number of the British butterflies this summer. The said adoring butterflies are mysteriously declining despite the summer season.
The scientists described the population of the British butterflies at their lowest number as shocking and mysterious. Richard Fox of Butterfly Conservation said that the drop in butterfly numbers this summer has been a shock. "When we have cold, wet summers, as in 2012, we expect butterfly populations to plummet, but that wasn't the case this year."
Fox further explained that the summer months were warmer than usual. On the other hand, the Big Butterfly Count, which is the annual citizen science insect survey, saw the butterflies in lowest number. He also said that the very mild winter, or the cold spring, the impact of intensive farming and pesticides are causing the decline of the British butterflies.
According to Farming UK, the British butterflies' species like the Comma, Gatekeeper and Small Copper were down by 46 percent, 40 percent and 30 percent respectively compared to last year. Meanwhile, the Small Tortoiseshell drops by 47 percent and the Peacock by 42 percent. These species recorded their second worst years. The colorful Peacock has a six-fold decrease over three years.
On the other hand, based on the survey the red admiral species has increased in numbers by 70 percent compared to 2015. This is the largest year on year increase of any species. Another growing in number is the green-veined white by 58 percent. It was topped by the large white with an increase of 2 percent, according to the Guardian.
Fox explained that the cause of the decline of the British butterflies could be the recent extreme weather event that is unusually mild winter. He further explained that caterpillars appeared from hibernation during the warm winter and then diminished in the colder than average spring. On the other hand, scientific studies about the impact of mild winters must be conducted.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone