As soon as I typed that I wondered if anyone would pick up on that... well doneMikeOxon wrote:...but the end product is the heat output, which enables it to fly and reach nectar sources ahead of its competitors!Cotswold Cockney wrote:that excess of power going nowhere without an end product.
Mike
Meantime ... back to winter cardui sightings :~
Be interesting to know if any Lepidopterists based in Northern France have observed northwards migrations across the English Channel at any time in the depths of an English winter.
Pending that information, I believe the fact that so many are reported in the most southerly parts of the Country, even down to observations on the beach or nearby cliffs, are "red herrings". Those same areas in the far south will have numerous pockets of very favourable micro climates which could feasibly allow some butterflies to survive. Not just as adults but even complete their development from any of the earlier stages in those same favourable micro-climates. Even if the odd insect is seen coming in from the sea in January, that is no guarantee that it took off from France. It could have aborted an attempt to fly south across the Channel returning to await a better opportunity to do so when more favourable flying conditions arrive. That opportunity would be very unlikely to materialise given the time of year.
So based on the scanty and in conclusive evidence available to me so far, I shall be of the opinion that those insects seen so far south in the depths of an English Winter are home bred individuals and opportunist hibernators or semi hibernators when local conditions allow.
With extensive experience of many species of butterflies and moths in captivity, my observations show they are remarkably strong and resilient and capable of surviving surprisingly unfavourable conditions. Even very low temperatures and going on to breed when better conditions become available.