A previously thought to be extinct butterfly has been spotted in the southern part of England, as confirmed by a conservation organization. Numerous sightings of the Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly have been reported in recent weeks.
The Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly has been seen in various locations including Kent, Sussex, The Isle of Wight, Cornwall, and Dorset.
These sightings have led Butterfly Conservation to reclassify the species as a resident breeder in the UK, rather than just a migratory species.
This marks the first time since the 1980s that the butterfly has been classified in this manner.
Professor Richard Fox, who heads the science department at Butterfly Conservation, mentioned to the BBC: “The reasons for the disappearance and reappearance of the butterfly in Britain remain unknown, but it is likely linked to climatic factors driving its population expansion across Europe, benefitting the UK as well.”
The Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly is known to inhabit trees and is larger than its smaller relative, the small tortoiseshell.
The smaller tortoiseshell butterfly is commonly found in gardens and is identifiable by white spots on its wing tips, distinguishing it from the Large Tortoiseshell.
According to reports from the Express, the caterpillars of the Large Tortoiseshell feed on leaves from elms, willow, aspen, and poplar trees.
As per The Guardian, the decline of the Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly was previously attributed to Dutch elm disease, but experts now believe that its disappearance was due to reaching the upper limits of its natural habitat, with its return to the UK being aided by global warming.
This butterfly is not the only species benefiting from rising global temperatures, as warmer conditions have also led to the migration or reestablishment of continental moth species in the UK.
Butterfly Conservation has encouraged the public to report any sightings of the butterfly on the iRecord platform, a citizen science app, to help track the breeding locations of these butterflies.
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