Scientists ask public to look out for England's only mountain butterfly
Scientists are asking visitors to the Lake District to keep an eye out for England 's only mountain butterfly.
The mountain ringlet, a small brown butterfly distinguished by orange spots on its wings, lives exclusively on mountains and is more commonly found in Scotland than in England.
Conservationists say the butterfly is so hard to find in England that it is not known whether its numbers are increasing or decreasing.
The adult butterflies usually emerge in June and fly for up to three weeks, though the timing is weather dependent, with the last week of May being the earliest the butterfly has been spotted in Cumbria, and the latest is mid-July.
The butterflies are small, around 35-38mm (1.4 inches), and only active in bright sunshine. They tend to keep low to the ground in short flights, pausing on grass tussocks or feeding on the flowers of tormentil and heath bedstraw.
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is examining how mountain ringlets are responding to climate change, with concerns that mountain species will be squeezed into smaller areas of suitable habitat as temperatures rise.
The charity says sightings from the public, as they explore the Lake District National Park, would help improve knowledge of the butterfly's distribution and breeding success.
Butterfly Conservation North of England conservation manager Martin Wain said: 'We would be so grateful if fell walkers could keep their eyes peeled for this lovely little butterfly and report their sightings.
'You might even discover a new colony. We urgently need to know more about where it is so we can learn more about how to protect it.
He added: 'Looking for the mountain ringlet can add extra interest to your hike, whether you slow down and mindfully look for it, watch out for it as you eat your sandwiches, or just keep it in mind as you walk.'
The charity has produced a map of previous sightings of mountain ringlets, all above 450 metres (1,476ft), on mountains in the Borrowdale volcanic group – from Wasdale in the west to Mardale and Haweswater in the east.
The map also includes potential new locations marked in pink squares, near existing sightings, where conservationists are most keen to encourage people to look for new colonies.
Lancaster University student Mim Woodward, who is helping to co-ordinate the project, said: 'If you can explore one of these pink squares, you could be the first to record a mountain ringlet there, helping to uncover a brand new colony.
'These are the most important areas for us to search, and your walk could make a real difference to Butterfly Conservation.'
The charity hopes to work with farmers and land managers across Cumbria to trial different land management techniques, in particular grazing regimes, to see how to maintain the best habitat for the mountain ringlet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Throat cancer patient praises new Salisbury District Hospital kit
A throat cancer patient has praised new equipment at Salisbury District Hospital for making an uncomfortable procedure more bearable for Russell, 67, from Maiden Bradley, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in November 2019 after discovering a lump in his throat. Since then, he has undergone monthly check-ups using videoscopes to monitor his condition - a procedure he once described as feeling like going "a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson".With funding from the Stars Appeal, the hospital's charity, six new videoscopes which cut appointment times have been purchased at a cost of £115,000. These devices allow for quicker and more comfortable diagnoses for patients with suspected head and neck their introduction in September, more than 1,600 patients referred with suspected head and neck cancers have benefitted from their use. 'Felt like a punch' Mr Russell said: "I am well used to this unpleasant procedure, but the new cameras make it so much more comfortable. For new patients, they will significantly reduce the fear of having it done."He added: "The new cameras made the procedure so much easier to manage. Sometimes it used to feel like being punched in the nose."The upgraded scopes also offer doctors much clearer images, helping them to detect changes in patients over time. This is particularly important for people like Mr Russell, whose cancer has been persistent and unpredictable. "The unique nature of my cancer meant it kept coming and going. This equipment is really important because doctors can now see subtle changes that may signal something's happening," he scopes are part of a new 'one-stop' diagnostic service led by the hospital's Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Maxillofacial can now receive assessments in a single visit, instead of attending multiple departments. ENT consultant Mr Kostas Marinakis said the new equipment has had a major impact. "The superior image quality gives us the best chance of detecting early cancers and significantly improves the comfort of the procedure. "We're extremely grateful to the Stars Appeal supporters for making this possible."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
How Devon and Cornwall warming seas are altering the food chain
Beneath the surface of the ocean is a world filled with a vast array of fauna and flora but scientists say "somewhat unusual" changes are taking place. Intensified by a marine heatwave in May, they say waters off the south coast of England are getting warmer and disrupting the food chain. "I'm not a scientist or anything like that," said Cornish snorkeler and underwater photographer Heather Hamilton."But because I've been in the sea so much over the last 20-odd years, I have seen changes, especially in the last two years." Ms Hamilton runs a a blog and Instagram page documenting the different species she sees in Cornwall, including different species of jellyfish as well as increases in octopus said the changes had also left her with a "mixture of emotions" from excitement to concern."You've got in the back of your mind, 'Is this a good thing?'" she said."It's a little bit worrying to think why is this happening all of a sudden in the last few years?" Ms Hamilton's observations in the sea are part of what marine ecologist Dr Bryce Stewart, from the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, said were "dramatic changes" to the marine Stewart, who helped create the latest Sir David Attenborough documentary, said he was "very confident" changes in the marine environment were being caused by the warming of the recent months he said there had been some "somewhat unusual" changes off the coast of Devon and Cornwall, where a marine heatwave was most intense in have reported an "invasion" of octopus which is "decimating" the Devon shellfish octopus, usually found in the Mediterranean, are being increasingly found in lobster and crab pots off the is thought the octopuses are coming from Morocco, as fishermen there are reporting a shortage of the creatures. Dr Stewart said: "So there's a lot of species either turning up that we haven't had before or increasing abundance... and then of course we have other species that were more adapted to cooler water decreasing in abundance... and we see those changes right from the base of the food chain in the plankton to right to the top, to the tuna and sharks."He said the number of blue sharks off the south coast of England was currently the highest anglers had ever seen."We've been working with anglers, and they have datasets going back to the 1950s about their catch rates of blue sharks, they all let them go so don't worry about that, but the numbers now are the highest we've ever seen," he Stewart said changes were happening in the ocean "more dramatically" than anyone had predicted. Dr Stewart said a trip off the coast of Falmouth a couple of years ago was "one of the greatest days at sea" he had ever had – having travelled all over the the trip, he saw two fin whales, "thousands of dolphins", and also snorkelled with blue fin whale is the second-largest species of Stewart added: "It's the biggest creature I have ever seen, we estimated probably 70ft long, which is enormous right?"These things are now just off the coast, and I would encourage as many people as possible to go out and see them." The Devon Wildlife Trust said it was seeing changes closer to the shore, including colourful species of sea Cocciardi, marine nature recovery officer at the trust, said one citizen science project involved surveying rock pools at Wembury beach, in the South Hams, on a monthly basis. "That gives us a good indication of what changes year-on-year and month-on-month," she said."So for example, what we're seeing more in Wembury is... furrowed crabs, and sometimes hermit crabs - and those are more Mediterranean species, that are seen here more and more often." This spring has been the second sunniest spring on record. With sunshine levels high, and the vertical mixing of water limited by the predominance of easterly and north-easterly winds, a marine heatwave was recorded in the waters to the west of Ireland and through the Irish and Celtic seas in mid-MayThe phenomenon is defined as sea temperatures which exceed the seasonal threshold for more than five consecutive days. In the UK the marine heatwave threshold for May is 11.3C (52.34F). On 19 May, the average sea surface temperature reached 12.69C (54.84F). For Ms Hamilton, the sea is a "very special place" and growing up in the Isles of Scilly meant it was "kind of inevitable" she would be captivated by the ocean."Going in the sea and snorkelling is kind of like an escape from the world above, you're kind of putting your head under the water and you forget about all your worries in life," she said."It's just very calming and peaceful."Dr Stewart said if people engaged with marine environment more, they would be more likely to become passionate about protecting it."I'm going to echo the recent Ocean with David Attenborough film here," he said."What that showed us and what I've seen as well in my own research is that when we look after the marine environment, it has an amazing ability to bounce back."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Hartlepool dad with brain cancer searching for treatment
The family of a man with an inoperable brain tumour have raised more than £42,000 for a treatment they are not sure Trevor Jones, 41, from Hartlepool, was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma after having multiple seizures on Christmas wife, Samantha Jones, 37, said he was a fit man who never smoked and rarely drank, but was ultimately given six to 12 months to even after two unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy and what looks like no treatment options left, Mrs Jones said she was not giving up on her husband. The couple and their two sons, aged eight and 12, were staying at Center Parcs in Cumbria over Jones, who works as a teaching assistant, said it was "just a normal Christmas" with "batteries and chaos".But, after complaining of a belly ache, her husband collapsed on the bathroom floor a few hours later. Mr Jones had a seizure in the ambulance on his way to Cumberland Infirmary and another once he arrived. He was then placed into an induced was transferred to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, where he was woken up a few days later for most tests and eventually told the couple they thought Mr Jones had a brain tumour."That was a massive shock, I fainted," Mrs Jones said."Trevor, I don't know how he managed to take it all in, but he did."Following a tumour biopsy, it was revealed he had stage four glioblastoma and the couple were told he would have a possible six to 12 months to Jones said it was the worst day of their lives. Failed chemotherapy rounds Doctors believe Mr Jones' tumour could have been growing in his brain for years."You just can't believe something can be growing inside for so long and all of a sudden something triggers it when it's too late," his wife Jones, who works as a rigger at a power station, had very few he was tired, the couple always put that down to being parents. He also had bouts of sickness and two rounds of chemotherapy, an MRI showed the tumour had progressed and oncologists did not want to put him through a third Jones said she believed other treatment, like immunotherapy, could have been available if, following his tumour biopsy, the tumour had not been frozen in Brain Tumour Charity said freezing the tumour in paraffin can damage the tissue and make future use believes at least two samples should be flash-frozen, which can make patients eligible for clinical trials and emerging Hubbert, director of pathology for Tees Valley Pathology, part of University Hospitals Tees, said: "Our trust processes tumour biopsies using either frozen section (flash freezing) or paraffin wax embedding techniques to support diagnosis, however these are not used for the purpose of immunotherapy treatment directly." Mrs Jones has been unable to go back to work since the Christmas holidays because of the risk her husband will have another seizure."It's unimaginable really, it's hard to explain," she said."The kids know that he's got brain cancer and our youngest is only eight, he doesn't quite understand."And our oldest is 12 and I think he's a little bit in denial, he probably doesn't want to come to terms with it." 'I keep positive' Mrs Jones said she was not giving up on her husband's health."For the past three months all I've done is research, research, research, ways to help him," she said."I think it's the only way to cope really. And although it's hard, every single day I'm so positive with Trevor because I don't want him feeling worried or scared."He would do the same for me."More than £42,000 has been raised for Mr Jones, which his wife hopes will go towards treatment if it becomes available."At the moment, he isn't getting any treatment," she said."I just hope [the money] can be beneficial to Trevor." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
