Millions of painted lady butterflies could be heading to Britain in a once-in-a-decade mass migration from southern Europe.
Unusually high numbers of the orange and black butterflies have been reported in southern Europe at the critical time of year for them to spread northwards to the UK.
Painted ladies commonly migrate in varying numbers from the continent to Britain each summer, where the caterpillars feed on thistles.
But around once every 10 years the UK experiences a "painted lady summer", when millions descend as part of the longest butterfly migration in the world.
The last mass migration took place in 2009 when around 11 million painted ladies winged their way across to the UK, including to the most northerly parts of Scotland.
Since then the UK has had five years with below average numbers, but scientists are confident that 2015 could be different.
Recent warm conditions have seen painted lady numbers soar again, with reports of large numbers on parts of the UK's south coast.
"The painted lady migration is one of the real wonders of the natural world," said Richard Fox, from group Butterfly Conservation.
"Travelling up to one kilometre in the sky and at speeds of up to 30mph, these small, fragile-seeming creatures migrate hundreds of miles to reach our shores each year."
Share
