Butterfly Conservation

Ever wanted to know a bit more about butterflies but when you try to spot them they move away so quickly that you end up none the wiser? That is sort of where I am at at the moment. However, I went to a talk last night by Scott Donaldson from Butterfly Conservation that aimed to educate a group of volunteers to perform butterfly transects up at Loch Ardinning and I feel a little more informed. The survey will start next spring so we all have the remainder of summer - hopefully there is some - to practice.

The good news - in terms of ease of identification - is that there are only 20 differents species of butterfly in the Glasgow area, plus 6 day flying moths, so that narrows down the set of possible butterflies, and makes it easier to learn the key distinguishing characteristics. Up at Loch Ardinning only 17 butterflies species are know to be there. Go to the local Butterfly Conservation website and browse around and also download the handy Butterflies and day-flying moths of Glasgow brochure. I like this guide because it contains pictures only of those butterflies you are likely to see round here.

Another interesting thing I picked up last night: Some butterflies such as the orange-tip did not exist in Scotland 30 or so years ago. These and a few other species have gradually made their way north. Butterflies are brilliant indicators of environmental change and these movements and the fact that butterflies are observed earlier in the season each year indicate that something is going on. I havn't read up on this so don't want to jump to any conclusions but the observations are undeniable.

Butterfly Conservation want your observations. Click here to find out more. Smart phone apps are also available.

#butterflyconservation