I’ve disturbed several pristine peacocks hibernating in my log pile in this deep midwinter, but butterflies that endure winter in their adult form are a minority. We may see species including the brimstone, red admiral, small tortoiseshell and comma on a sunny winter’s day.
Most British butterflies tackle winter as caterpillars, superbly camouflaged on bare branches (purple emperor), encased in elegant hibernacula (winter quarters) of withered leaves (white admiral) or even submerged in bogs (swallowtail).
The most adventurous of our 59 native species is currently found in the African tropics. The painted lady chooses migration over hibernation. Scientists last year proved this butterfly crosses 1,250 miles (2,000km) of Saharan desert during its annual life cycle, by analysing chemicals found in butterfly wings to discover where individuals grew up as caterpillars.
Congolese painted ladies, the offspring of butterflies that flew south last autumn, are now heading north over the Sahara. The children of these Mediterranean spring arrivals will make their way on to Britain in May. In this way, the painted lady can travel 7,500 miles over several generations, perpetually globetrotting to avoid the extremes of hot summers and icy winters.
