Tag Archives: climate change and butterflies

Queen of Spain Fritillaries breeding in Sussex

The Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), a rare migrant sporadically seen on the south coast of England, has been observed breeding in Sussex.  With climate change, the butterfly’s range has been creeping ever northwards, and sightings in England have increased in recent years.  The mating Fritillaries photographed by Neil Hulme, member of Butterfly Conservation, are believed to be the offspring of a migrant butterfly spotted in July.  It now remains to be seen if this species will be able to establish a breeding colony, as the Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) has done. Its success will depend largely on environmentally-friendly farming practices, such as not spraying crops at the edge of fields.  More information on the Queen of Spain Fritillary at UK Butterflies