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Nature watch: September
Discover how brightly coloured British butterflies carefully camouflage their wings
Compared to many European countries, Britain is badly off for butterflies. Hungary, for instance, has almost 200 species, while we can barely muster 59. But what beauties they are, especially the nymphalidae family, which includes the peacock and red admiral. The caterpillars feed on stinging nettles while the adults are attracted by Michaelmas daisies and late-flowering buddleia. The small tortoiseshell, the comma and the painted lady are of the same family. Commas and red admirals can be found sucking the juices of overripe blackberries and windfall apples. Their colours dazzle the eye, but how cleverly they camouflage themselves once their wings are folded. These survival strategies will stand them in good stead when it’s time for hibernation.
Brian Jackman
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