{"id":105968,"date":"2018-02-05T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2018-02-05T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=105968"},"modified":"2018-02-12T10:25:17","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T10:25:17","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-butterflies-how-to-prevent-their-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2018\/02\/the-ultimate-guide-to-butterflies-how-to-prevent-their-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Butterflies & How to Prevent Their Decline"},"content":{"rendered":"

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15 Jan 2018 – <\/em>Butterflies and moths have been around for millions of years. They used to be a common sight in gardens, but numbers have declined since the 1940s<\/strong> along with our other native wildlife species such as bees and hedgehogs.<\/p>\n

It will come as no surprise to hear this loss is due to destruction of natural habitats such as wildflower meadows, peatbogs and ancient woodlands in favour of intensive farming practices, roads and housing developments that have stripped away the majority of their nesting and foods sites.<\/p>\n

Climate change is partly responsible for butterfly decline too, producing wetter weather that alters the distribution of certain species.<\/p>\n

The relentless march forward of \u2018progress\u2019 damages our 56 species of butterfly and 2,500 species of moths who are sensitive to change \u2013 but your garden can help them find food and shelter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Decline Of Butterflies<\/strong><\/p>\n

The State of the UK\u2019s Butterflies\u00a0Report<\/a> shows \u2018serious, long term and ongoing decline of UK butterflies\u2019<\/em>. It highlights how 76% of our butterfly species have declined over the past forty years<\/strong>, with species such as the High Brown Fritillary<\/em> at risk of extinction, and the once common Small Tortoiseshell<\/em> becoming a rare sight.<\/p>\n

The new State of Britain\u2019s Larger Moths 2013 report mirrored this decline, which is hardly surprising since many moths are daytime creatures and others are what you could describe as night butterflies. Records show moths have declined 28% over the same period.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But why should we care about pretty, fanciful butterflies?<\/p>\n

Because it\u2019s bad news for the food chain. Animals rely on butterflies for food, including us. Butterflies and moths are pollinators and without them our crops are in trouble.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some butterflies have declined so severely they\u2019re protected under law \u2013 the Large Blue<\/em>, Large Copper<\/em> and Swallowtail<\/em> being just a few at real risk of extinction.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The decline is not only of concern to butterflies, its evidence of a problem in our environment. The face of our environment is changing, it\u2019s turning into an urbanised monoculture reliant on pesticides, intensive farming and building to house and feed our ever increasing population \u2013 and this comes at the cost of our wild creatures.<\/p>\n

Life Cycle of a Butterfly<\/strong><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s worth remembering that butterflies have four stages of life and with that many stages it\u2019s no wonder environmental changes wreak havoc on their life-cycles.<\/p>\n

We all learn about the caterpillar to butterfly in primary school, but it\u2019s easy to forget that wriggling grub emerging from a tiny egg to eat your hard grown vegetables will turn into a beautiful pollinating insect. Talk about ugly duckling syndrome! Of course, they will be a chrysalis for a time too.<\/p>\n

Butterflies don\u2019t live that long, the lifespan depending on their species and the weather. Larger butterflies like the Peacock<\/em> can live a season with hibernation, but other smaller ones only manage a few weeks to a few months.<\/p>\n

The Anatomy of a Butterfly<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A butterfly or moths wings are the most dramatic part of their anatomy, but there are other parts too.<\/p>\n

They have six jointed legs beneath a head, thorax which is the chest, and an abdomen \u2013 the tail. A butterfly\u2019s head has large compound eyes that allow it to check all around for predators. It will also have two antennae.<\/p>\n

Antennae assess the surrounding environment and report back on chemical activity \u2013 a bit like a snake\u2019s tongue. They use them to detect nectar producing plants and to track the pheromones of a mate. Near the antennae is a special organ used for flight orientation and balance. It\u2019s called the Johnston\u2019s organ. Butterflies with a damaged Johnston\u2019s organ may fly in circles and be unable to manage a straight line.<\/p>\n

Their wings are made from scales, but not like fish scales, they are made from thin material called chitin which is stretched over vein type structures. There are four wings in all. The wings closest to its head are usually triangular in form, and the lower pair of wings is fan shaped. The wings provide insulation, allowing the butterfly to heat up, and they\u2019re often brightly coloured to scare away predators.<\/p>\n

Since a butterfly can\u2019t live without heat, the wings are a very important method of retaining and building up body heat<\/strong>. They don\u2019t regenerate, which is why butterflies seek shelter in winds and rain.<\/p>\n

Where do Butterflies Live?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This depends on the species and where they are on the point of the butterfly lifecycle.<\/p>\n

Species prefer different locations<\/a> for shelter and egg laying, which is one of the reasons why they are declining. Certain habitats like wildflower meadows are hard to come by \u2013 we\u2019ve lost 97% of wildflower meadows over the past few decades. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Nettles are preferred by Small Tortoiseshell<\/em> butterflies that lay their eggs on stingers, whereas Large Whites<\/em> prefer your cabbages, and Brimstone butterflies<\/em> lay their eggs on buckthorn.<\/p>\n

A caterpillar and chrysalis won\u2019t go far from the food source, but an adult butterfly will spend its life on the wing searching for nectar and egg laying sites.<\/p>\n

At night they creep into small crevices, in hedgerows and masonry or anywhere that affords them protection. Moths do the same \u2013there are many species of daytime moth flitting around with the butterflies too.<\/p>\n

A butterfly house provides welcome shelter. Place your hotel in a south facing sunny location because butterflies like warmth<\/strong> \u2013 their wings are adapted to soak up as much heat as possible. Ensure it remains dry inside by attaching a porch if yours doesn\u2019t have this vital addition. Fix it to fence post or brick wall to avoid a tunnel of freezing wind. A butterfly house stood on away from a wall or on a chain is little use.<\/p>\n

Peacock<\/em> butterflies and Tortoiseshells<\/em> may hibernate in your butterfly house so don\u2019t take the winter months as an opportunity to clean it out.<\/p>\n

httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hggby_4gNqY<\/p>\n

What Do Butterflies Eat?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Butterflies survive on nectar.<\/strong> They taste it through sensors on their feet, and drink it from the flower centre using a proboscis \u2013 a long, narrow tube just like a straw. If you stand quietly to watch a butterfly at a flower you will see this fascinating body part in action. Other sources of food depend entirely on the species but fruit, tree sap and the sodium found in our sweat are attractive to some.<\/p>\n

Caterpillars eat plants, and plenty of them, each specific to their species. In fact, the children\u2019s story The Very Hungry Caterpillar<\/em> could be considered a factual book! So much energy is needed to transform into a butterfly that caterpillars are mini eating machines.<\/p>\n

Peacock <\/em>caterpillars eat and live on nettles as do Comma<\/em> and Red Admiral<\/em> caterpillars whereas Elephant Hawk<\/em> moth caterpillars dine on willowherb and fuchsia, and the Holly Blue<\/em> is specific to, you\u2019ve guessed it, holly. Other caterpillars love trees such as alder buckthorn, others like wild roses, lavender<\/a> \u2013 in fact most native flowers and weeds are utilised by our caterpillars.<\/p>\n

In case you were wondering, only two out of the 2500 species of moth will eat your clothes<\/strong>, and they only enter the house because they are attracted to light, not because they want to dine on your expensive winter wool coat!<\/p>\n

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Do Butterflies Have Any Predators?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately for butterflies they have a range of predators at their caterpillar, pupa and adult stage. Birds, spiders, frogs, toads, hedgehogs, bats, cats, dogs, wasps all eat caterpillars, butterflies and moths.<\/strong> Butterflies are especially vulnerable when they emerge from the chrysalis to pump liquid into their wings and wait patiently for them to harden before flying away.<\/p>\n

To defend themselves an array of defences have developed. Caterpillars blend into the foliage, others stand out a bright shade of danger, and some have spines.<\/strong> Butterflies often have bright markings that mimic something dangerous \u2013 for example the Peacock<\/em> butterfly has two large spots that resemble eyes on his wings to scare predators, but at rest the wings are closed up to reveal a dull, camouflaged grey. When folded a butterfly is so thin it\u2019s difficult to spot from above.<\/p>\n

Some caterpillars and butterflies release a chemical scent to deter predators and other have foul smelling parts such as the Swallowtail<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Do Butterflies Hibernate?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the larger UK butterflies hibernate as eggs, as caterpillars, a chrysalis, or as fully fledged adults.<\/p>\n

Our annual visitors such as the Painted Lady<\/a><\/em> can\u2019t stand winter temperatures and fly to back to warmer African climates. Most Painted Ladies<\/em> retuning to Africa in autumn are fresh, following in their parents\u2019 footsteps with no directions or guidance. The fact they can do this at an altitude of 500 metres makes the Painted Lady<\/em> an astonishing creature.<\/p>\n

Those hibernating do so in the coldest winter months because there are no food sources available. Brimstone<\/em>, Small Tortoiseshell<\/em>, Red admiral<\/em> and Peacocks<\/em> will all hibernate, potentially in your butterfly hotel, in dried-out grass stalks, in brickwork, or in your house.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t disturb a hibernating butterfly<\/strong>, they do not harm, and releasing one that\u2019s woken in the central heating means death if it\u2019s cold outside. Instead, put it in a shoebox with a thin cut on one side. Then place it in a cold, dark place like your garage or shed to continue hibernating.<\/p>\n

The slot is vital \u2013 don\u2019t forget to cut the box so a waking butterfly can escape on its own. If it\u2019s warm and sunny outside put the box into a hot spot, and the butterfly will fly away \u2013 if it made it through hibernation safely. Many don\u2019t make it, either running out of stored energy or falling ill to fungal infections in damp hibernation spots.<\/p>\n

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How Butterflies Help the Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n

Butterflies and moths are not only beautiful garden ornaments, they are vital pollinators<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Whereas bees<\/a> get covered in pollen butterflies take a smaller amount on their slender legs, but they travel greater distances than bees, flitting around like nomads instead of returning to a hive or burrow. This means they spread pollen over a larger area strengthening the genetic variation of DNA in plants<\/strong>. This means our plants are tougher and less likely to fall prey to disease.<\/p>\n

Butterflies and moths also provide food for our birds. Blue tit chicks in particular feast on caterpillars in spring, and the adult butterflies are a filling meal for both birds and bats. In fact without butterflies our native wildlife would go hungry as mating and breeding seasons are arranged around food sources.<\/p>\n

You can help in a number of ways:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Intensive farming practices find farmers more often growing tall grass for silage instead of the traditional wildflowers for hay, so butterflies have a hard time finding food.<\/p>\n

Bees and butterflies need flowers to survive and in turn birds, bats and other mammals need bees and butterflies. But it\u2019s not as simple as loading up your boot at the garden centre because caterpillars need certain plants to thrive \u2013 here are some good choices:<\/p>\n