painted lady butterfllies

[hamsterqueen]

They are everywhere

This morning there were 5 of them on the red valerian in the front garden and the chive flowers have been covered.


There was also a letter in the independent saying that they have seen more painted ladies in the last week than they have for at least 10 years.

Any one else have them flitting around?

[BumbleB]

Yes, we noticed a lot of them last w/e after the heavy rain and then sunshine, they seemed to be in 3's.

[Two_Sheds]

I've got loads too!
They must have enjoyed the cool wet summer last year.

[Hazel at the Hill]

They have been blown over from France - there was something about it in the paper today (but I can't find it now!)

It happens every year, but there are more than usual this year apparantly.

[hamsterqueen]

50 arriving every minute!

Patrick Barkham on the arrival of millions of painted lady butterflies in Britain | Environment | The Guardian

[Nicos]

That's fantastic..thistle eaters too!!!!...I could do with a few hundred of them in our field- don't think I've seen any yet....I wonder where they could be????

[Nicos]

Guess what I saw tonight sussing out the peas???? ( just the one though)

[hamsterqueen]

'tis the tip of the iceberg Nicos!

[roitelet]

We've had loads here all flying east to west, they are heading your way Nicos.

It must be the annual arrival. Did you know that they are migratory?

[Two_Sheds]

They must have enjoyed the cool wet summer last year.

Ah ... they're from North Africa!

A Spanish scientist, Constanti Stefanescu, reported seeing hundreds of thousands of them emerging in Morocco in mid-February after heavy winter rains in north Africa triggered the germination of food plants devoured by its caterpillars.

[Nicos]

We've had loads here all flying east to west, they are heading your way Nicos.

ooo...that's rather exciting!!!! Must get out my camera!!

[FB.]

Yes, more than usualy numbers here, too.
As people elsewhere mention, they really like chives.

[KayJay]

we had 30 passing through in 20 mins- still going north

[tulip]

we've got lots of them here too.

[shirlthegirl43]

We were parked outside Tesco a few days ago and I commented how many butterflies there were about - hundreds and hundreds. They were orangey brown but I didn't see one close enough to say if it was a painted lady or not.