Early Spring butterflies
For many of us it’s spotting the first butterflies that mean Spring is really here. The 59 species of UK butterflies (including 2 regular migrants) are some of our most attractive insects, but like many other species, their n umbers have declined dramatically over the last 50 years perhaps by as much as 50%. Major threats include loss of habitat (especially food plants), continuing use of chemicals pesticides, and climate change. The earliest species on the wing are normally those that have overwintered in a dormant state as adult butterflies. The yellow B rimstone butterfly , named after an archaic word for sulphur, is one of the first butterflies we see flying in spring. That's because it steals a march on many other species by over-wintering as an adult, often among clusters of ivy leaves where its pale underwings camouflage it superbly. The Brimstone has a very long proboscis, so it can reach nectar on flowers which most other UK butterflies cannot, such as runner beans and t