Global Warming

Global Warming Affecting UK Butterfies

Scientists have discovered in a new study that many butterflies, sensing warmer temperatures, are emerging earlier than they're supposed to. This is causing their numbers to decline considerably.

The study conducted by York University involved collecting data on butterflies and moths by citizen scientists over a 20-year period from 1995 to 2014, when Britain experienced an increase of 0.5 degrees in temperature on average during spring.

The study revealed that species which are known to have multiple and rapid breeding cycles every year with flexible habitat can be benefited, like Speckled Wood species which are able to spend more time in increasing their numbers before winter.

However, the early emergence of species that are specific to certain habitats, and are known to have only one life per cycle in a year are shrinking in population and vanishing from the northern parts of UK -- a place that they once inhabited. Species affected with this include the High Brown Fritillary butterfly which are the most vulnerable to climate change. Not only doesn't extra breeding time benefit them in any way, they also emerge early from their cocoon where they don't find food pertaining to their restricted diet and thus suffer, being driven gradually towards extinction.