Where have all the butterflies gone?

[trickie]

My daughter has a huge Budleia bush, normally swarming with then, only seen the odd one. No wasps, some but fewer bees and very few moths.
Funnily enough we have had more songbird's this year. That might be down to the crows and magpies have not appeared this year, in the last 5 /6 years we’ve had dozens of them within 700 yards of the front door. Great news, also the local Predator of birds, a local large Tom who took home at least one bird most days has (after many many requests from quite a few local residents) been fitted with a nice loud bell

 

[Jagare]

I was up feeding the pheasants this morning and there were quite a lot of butterflies and bees on the mustard game cover. Loads of grass hoppers and crickets in the long grass.
I don't think we have had the volume of wet weather here like the UK has had

 

[The Grouse]

At the farm I shoot over the hay meadows which are still to be cut are teeming with butterflies and have been for a good while now. Outside there though, not so much, get a few at home, but nothing like we used to.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I have changed and sown the corners and spare little bits of ground into multi flower areas for butterflies, bees and moths this year and last week two new sightings of humming bird moth on new plant honeysuckle, no july bugs or stags this year from the stump in the garden ( normal June)
Bees are well down same as last year

Good man!

 

[jall55]

Good numbers this morning as the calmer / warmer weather has been with us all week
Th knapweed and indeed ragwort were covered in bees and hover flies - butterflies in the wild bird plots aplenty

 

[big ears]

Good numbers this morning as the calmer / warmer weather has been with us all week
Th knapweed and indeed ragwort were covered in bees and hover flies - butterflies in the wild bird plots aplenty

The key is the warmth. Allows sugar production which in tern allows good nectar. Hence the insects.
We need some 25°C plus days

 

[Overlay]

The key is the warmth. Allows sugar production which in tern allows good nectar. Hence the insects.
We need some 25°C plus days

Past two springs haven’t been good starter hereabouts

 

[Ruby Tuesday 2]

I saw a cockchafer last week but didn't see any at all in May.

 

[big ears]

Past two springs haven’t been good starter hereabouts

Your right but last two Junes have seen high temps.
It worries me the cold springs that this is what we will get. As a beekeeper it just adds another challenge

 

[big ears]

I saw a cockchafer last week but didn't see any at all in May.

Not seen a dumbledoor for two years now.

 

[Overlay]

Your right but last two Junes have seen high temps.
It worries me the cold springs that this is what we will get. As a beekeeper it just adds another challenge

I sadly packed up bee keeping this year, and after the spring I wished I hadn’t , but the past two years haven’t been really that good and this year I’ve collected 4 swarms early on which are normally strong colonies all new homes and that has been that, nothing since , my garden which has an good abundance of soft, hard and berry fruits etc with wild flowers mixed in, pears flowered no bees, apples flowered a tiny amount cherries flowered a few seen, blackberries might as well have not bothered it was like the artic in a bee haven garden flowers right through the year all the wrong early

Got very little of decent crop compared to three years ago, I guess 2/3rds down looking on the bright side probable
Let’s hope things brighten up

 

[big ears]

I sadly packed up bee keeping this year, and after the spring I wished I hadn’t , but the past two years haven’t been really that good and this year I’ve collected 4 swarms early on which are normally strong colonies all new homes and that has been that, nothing since , my garden which has an good abundance of soft, hard and berry fruits etc with wild flowers mixed in, pears flowered no bees, apples flowered a tiny amount cherries flowered a few seen, blackberries might as well have not bothered it was like the artic in a bee haven garden flowers right through the year all the wrong early

Got very little of decent crop compared to three years ago, I guess 2/3rds down looking on the bright side probable
Let’s hope things brighten up

The his year has been hard in SW. early build up stopped with cold spring and no food. Those that swarmed failed to mate and had three colonies immediately superscede. Had two with drone laying queen after swarm,
Last two weeks have been warmer and swarming again. Crop this year well down. In fact had to feed three colonies in June due to low stores.
It is an unusual year.

 

[Cyres]

Spoke to my butterfly recorder at tennis on Tuesday. Worst year in 20 yrs. Due to wet cold spring. Huge failure of blue and great tit broods due to lack of caterpillars.
D

 

[Klenchblaize]

Good deed of the day:

Rescued from behind bedroom window blind and then rehydrated with sugared water. Managed to get one good picture before taking off:

K

 

[Overlay]

What a beauty of colour

 

[old keeper]

The insect decline has been going on for years. Certainly, the weather has had an effect. But modern monoculture has, in my opinion, had the biggest influence.

As a boy I collected butterflies and moths, the meadows here in Devon were covered in a variety of flowering plants and there were always countless butterflies and moths there. Now there are acres of ryegrass and pasture with not a sign of flowering plants.

I have a friend who owns a sheltered valley bordered by woodland that he leaves to nature. he has a moth trap going at this time of year and the varieties he catches are remarkable, all the hawk moths and many, many others. Several farmers I know are now planting cover crops that are certainly having an impact, with insects of all sorts there in numbers.

 

[Smellydog]

Found this chap the other day and already forgot what it is.

 

[Smellydog]

Magpie moth I believe.
Cant be shot in Wales!

 

[Cheviot]

CINNABAR

 

[Smellydog]

View attachment 377161
View attachment 377162
CINNABAR
View attachment 377163View attachment 377164

Not seen a single cinnabar caterpillar this time, they eat the ragwort.