Extremely rare Wood White butterfly found in Wales
Alan Sumnall, head of conservation for Wales at Butterfly Conservation, said: "This is really exciting news for us.
"Butterflies have suffered terribly in recent years because of human actions, but now we have a real success story – a new species for Wales – and what's more it's the result of fantastic, targeted conservation work by our team."
The Wood White was known to have a permanent colony in south-east Wales.
It is believed the new arrivals have spread from Shropshire, where targeted conservation efforts have supported population growth.
The first sighting in Wales was reported on May 9 at an NRW-owned site near Newtown.
Further surveys are planned for next spring to monitor the butterfly's progress.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Extremely rare Wood White butterfly found in Wales
The endangered Wood White has been recorded at four sites in Wales this summer, suggesting the species is recolonising Wales decades after its last population died out. Alan Sumnall, head of conservation for Wales at Butterfly Conservation, said: "This is really exciting news for us. "Butterflies have suffered terribly in recent years because of human actions, but now we have a real success story – a new species for Wales – and what's more it's the result of fantastic, targeted conservation work by our team." The Wood White was known to have a permanent colony in south-east Wales. It is believed the new arrivals have spread from Shropshire, where targeted conservation efforts have supported population growth. The first sighting in Wales was reported on May 9 at an NRW-owned site near Newtown. Further surveys are planned for next spring to monitor the butterfly's progress.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
White Wood butterflies found in Powys after decades-long absence
One of the rarest butterflies in the UK has returned Wales, decades after last being seen in the endangered Wood White, known for its delicate cream colour and striped antennae, was recorded at four sites in Powys by the Butterfly Conservation, including a female laying species used to have a permanent colony in south-east Wales but died out several decades ago due to a destruction of habitat, with only some "sporadic sightings" Conservation said butterflies had suffered in recent years "because of human actions" but now there was new hope for conservationists, with a "real success story" in the new species in Wales. Since 1979, the species' abundance has decreased by 82% at its few remaining sites. Butterfly Conservation said the new arrivals "almost certainly" come from sites just over the border in Shropshire, where targeted conservation work has been ongoing to maintain Wood White charity said its conservation team saw at least four individuals, including a female laying eggs, at Natural Resources Wales (NRW) sites at now plan to do further surveys next spring and are in contact with NRW to discuss managing roadside verges along forestry plantation roads. The news comes after a host of "surprising butterfly and moth activity", the charity said, much of it linked to this year's record-breaking Conservation have recorded 18 species of butterfly emerging at least two weeks earlier than average, with a further 24 species at least a week Dr Dan Hoare, Butterfly Conservation director of nature recovery, said while the charity loved to see butterflies and moths doing well in the UK, there were "going to be winners and losers from the very rapid climate change we're experiencing".Dr Hoare added: "One way we can increase the number of climate winners is by managing habitats positively so that threatened species can benefit as well as widespread mobile species."That means creating and maintaining good quality, connected habitat at a landscape scale, which Butterfly Conservation has been doing for years and will continue to do."
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Butterfly sightings increase in this year's count in Guernsey
There has been an increase in the number of butterfly sightings in Guernsey as part of an annual count, the island's Nature Commission has said. Citizen scientists have logged 282 butterflies in Guernsey this year, compared with 89 last year. It is part of the national survey organised by the Butterfly Conservation which finished on Sunday 10 were asked to log their data on the bailiwick map by the end of August. The Nature Commission's head of operations and education Angela Salmon said the team was "thrilled" with the engagement this year. She said: "So many more people [have been] taking part out and about in nature and enjoying butterflies."It followed a social media campaign and talks given in schools to encourage people to join in. People were asked to spend 15 minutes in their garden or on a walk recording the number and variety of butterflies they spotted to help build up a picture of the insects this final number of butterflies seen, the number of counts, number of citizen scientists and the top butterflies are likely to be available in September.
