Small copper butterfly

[nanila]

Today I spotted a new (to me) butterfly in our garden! At first I thought it was another gatekeeper, of which we have many, but then I realised that the sides of its wings had multiple spots rather than the single eye that gatekeepers' wings have.

Small coppers are not uncommon, but I've never seen one here (rural Worcestershire) before. I was under the impression their territory was further south. It makes sense with the unusually warm weather that they'd be spreading north. This one was a particularly vibrant specimen. \o/

Comments

[kotturinn]

Lovely. It's being a good year for some butterflies.

[nanila]

It has. I wonder if it's the weather, or the neo-nicotinoid pesticide ban, or a bit of both...

[kotturinn]

Bit of both I would expect. I think for the ones that are in abundance (including the ones normally seen further south and the ones who migrate in as adults) the current weather is advantageous. Perhaps even the cold spring so most emerged later when cold snaps were geniuinely over. Habitat loss is still a big issue, as with much wildlife :-(