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and welcome to British Butterflies |
Everyone loves to see butterflies in the spring and summer... but have you noticed something missing?
Some of our most common butterflies such as the Small Tortoiseshell are now at risk due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, pollution and global warming.
Many butterflies are now declining at an alarming rate.
Butterflies and Moths 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) each have specific environmental needs in order to survive each stage, reach adulthood and produce the next generation.
With the loss of traditional farming methods, the use of mechanical hedge cutters and insecticides, our countryside has lost much of its wildlife. The soil is devoid of life and incapable of naturally supporting food production. Instead our farmers now rely almost entirely on oil based fertilisers.
This web site is result of many hours work and a passion for some of our most beautiful yet delicate creatures which desperately need our help.
I hope, that by browsing my web site, you will be inspired to join the fight to save our butterflies and moths. Join Butterfly Conservation, a UK charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats and you could help make a difference. There are branches across the UK who need your help.
Steven Cheshire -
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Butterflies Galore in The Picos de Europa
I've just returned from 2 fantastic weeks in the Picos de Europa National Park in Northern Spain. Full trip report and photographs available soon. |
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Latest Design Project Completed
Design and print management of a double sided, full colour A2 poster promoting Wyre Forest butterflies on behalf of the Forestry Commission... more |
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Butterflies in
July
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Butterflies by month:
01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12
UK distribution maps with flight times:
View all species
Species lifecycle charts and information:
Lifecycle charts for all British species
Lifecycle of butterflies - an illustrated guide
Winter Butterflies |
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National Annual Events |
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Save Our Butterflies Week
25th July to 2nd August 2009 |
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National Moth Night
18th and 19th September 2009 |
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Garden Moths Count
20th to 28th June 2009 |
| More information about these events available here. |
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Aberrant forms and variations |
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Large Blue ab. insubrica |
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 The aberrant form 'insubrica (Vorbrodt, 1912)' presents itself as larger elongated spots on the upper forewing.
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| Find out more about aberrant forms and variations. |
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Protected species |
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Six species of butterfly, the Heath Fritillary, Large Blue,
Swallowtail, Marsh Fritillary, Large
Copper and High
Brown Fritillary are fully protected by law in the UK.
Due to habitat loss, these species have become
very rare in the UK or have suffered such significant
declines
that full protect is required in order to try and
save the species.
It is a criminal offence to disturb in
any way or collect
these species from the wild.
Many other species are also protected. Find out more.
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Join 
