A BEAUTIFUL blue butterfly which has been struggling for the last 40 years could be making a comeback says wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation.
The Common Blue is the most widespread of the UK’s blue butterflies and during the record-breaking hot weather in 2018, its numbers soared.
Now, with the country experiencing another heatwave and the Met Office forecasting above average temperatures throughout August, experts are predicting the Common Blue could see its best ever summer.
As part of this year’s Big Butterfly Count, Butterfly Conservation has teamed up with Campaign for National Parks to ask the public to look out for and record the Common Blue.
The butterfly prefers unimproved grassland such as downland, woodland clearings, heathland and even sand dunes.
Butterfly Conservation’s Dr Zoe Randle, said: “It would really help us if people could get outside and look for this butterfly.
“We’re also keen for people to keep recording any Painted Lady sightings, as this could be a record year for them – in just two days last week, people across the UK counted more than 30,000 Painted Lady butterflies and thousands more have been seen since.”
The Big Butterfly Count runs until Sunday, August 11. Taking part in the Count is easy – find a sunny place and spend just 15 minutes counting every butterfly seen and then submit sightings online at www.bigbutterflycount.org.
