We are lucky enough to live in 17 acres of woodland which we have been managing to improve for butterflies and other wildlife. I am developing a wild flower meadow, planted an area of native broadleaves that produce flowers and berries, put in hedges, taken out loads of invasive Rhododendron and planted up various areas with Rockrose and other wild flowers. Our triangle of land is quite a wildlife haven, which in itself causes more challenges. Everything needs to eat, either other creatures or precious plants that I have been nurturing!
Although
this is only the fifth year that we have been living here I had noticed a
pattern developing and numbers of butterflies had been increasing year on year.
I can't be sure why that was, but I would like to think it was partially
because of the work I have done to manage the habitats here.
In
previous years the first butterfly to appear has been the Small Tortoiseshell,
which would venture out on a mild spring day to feed on whatever it could find
flowering that early in the year. This year, however, I didn’t see any until
August and I only saw a total of four all year. I didn’t find any caterpillars
either this year, which is unusual. Often I find big clusters of caterpillars
on nettles.
Although
I had the impression that there were not many Green-veined Whites around this
year, my records show that numbers were only slightly down on previous years.
They were more numerous in the spring and the summer generation wasn't so good.
Disappointingly I only saw one Small Copper here this year. I
don't understand why I don't see more as there are plenty of sorrel and dockens
growing here for their caterpillars to feed on.
Sadly I didn't see any Northern Brown Argus, Dark Green Fritillaries,
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, or Painted Ladies here this year. I saw the
first three species in the valley above the house, but in much smaller numbers
than normal. This is the second year in a row that I haven't seen a Painted
Lady anywhere in the UK!
It is difficult to know exactly why butterfly numbers were so
low this year. I am sure it is a combination of factors. There has been much in
the news recently about herbicides and loss of habitat impacting on insect
populations. I am sure this is true, but I can't see that would explain this
year's sudden reduction in butterfly numbers. Last year was really dry
throughout spring and summer and I am sure this must have resulted in a
reduction of food plants for caterpillars. I noticed how the wild flowers I had
planted struggled. Then from September last year more or less until September
this year we had so much rain. A damp winter and then limited sunshine later in
the year must have had an impact.