Whats up with them?

[Dave McCormick]

I have been noticing for past several years an odd occurance. Since I first discovered small copper in a marshy area not far from my house, I have only seen then in August time around and not before for some reason. Is there a explination for why? I can't figure it out.

Usually you would see them before then.

Next, ever since last year and seen Painted Ladys appear on our shores and around where I live, there is only been ore or two spotted at one time and no more. I have one seen one at a time this year when they first arrived, but could tell that there was more than one as one had a tattered wing and other did not. Whats up?

Anyone have suggestions and any help would be appreciated.

[eccles]

Painted lady occurences in the British Isles are almost exclusively due to upswelling from continental Europe as summer emergences reach northwards. To cross the English Channel and/or the Irish Sea they rely on the Azores High swinging winds from the South and/or Southeast. Since the warm April petered out into the wettest June on record, and so far a pretty average July as well, we haven't had any such occasion, hence no painted lady.
Red admirals also do this but we still have good numbers of these this year because many managed to survive the mild winter.

[Dave McCormick]

Thanks about Painted Lady. red Admirals are numerous here, seem quite a few in one area. Its mainly the small copper I have wonders about. See 3-4 last August and none before. None again since then. Same year before that in 2005.