Weather good for butterflies

A long hot summer in Guernsey has brought a good year for butterflies and moths, according to local naturalists.

Numbers of regular migrant species have been very good and some very rare moths blown by the wind from as far away as the Mediterranean have also been spotted.

Increased numbers of Painted Ladies have been seen locally since May and Peacock Butterflies have also thrived.

Local entomologist Tim Peet said the record temperatures have been a blessing for the British Isles' hard-pressed butterflies, temporarily reversing a long-term downward trend in numbers.

He said butterflies and moths like hot weather and it was as simple as that.

"There are no fungal pests and parasites to attack the caterpillars. It helps our local species that live here all the time," he said.

"But because it's also been hot and dry in France, a lot of the migrants that Guernsey has have been swept up by the wind and we've benefited from that as well."