Butterflies

Everyone loves to see butterflies in the spring and summer... colourful jewels which brighten our day... but, although I live in the countryside, I have noticed their number reducing slowly in the last couple of years...

(Peacock)

Butterflies (and moths as well) are key indicators of the state of the natural world because of their short life-spans and complex lifecycles. Their lifecycles (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly) have specific environmental needs to survive each stage, reach adulthood and produce the next generation. Their presence or absence provides a rapid and undeniable indication of the health of the environment.

(Large White)

This summer, however, I have seen many more butterflies around. Does it mean a pollution decrease or simply that they have adapted to our environment changes?

(Small Tortoiseshell)