www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Its another dull chilly morning here and I know from (limited) experience that there is little point in going looking for butterflies at on of the local hot spots as there will be very little to see. This prompts the question: do butterflies fly when there is no sun (I suspect some do and some don’t but I don’t know) and if they do fly when its cloudy and dull, how high must the temperature be to get them into the air?

Cheers
Dave

Dave,

I have the temperature 12.5C in my head regards getting them in the air, but I've no idea where I read that.

If you've set the time aside to go butterfly hunting, then the adverse weather shouldn't stop you. Some of my favourite pictures are of butterflies I've found when it's inclement. In honesty though, I only ever find a few species (I've learnt where they roost) so limit my searching to these.

The Orange-tip photo I entered into the competition was taken while it was raining. They usually roost on something white (cuckooflower, hawthorne blossom, cotton-grass, etc) so a routine trawl in an area you know they're abundant will often yield results. GV White do the same.

Common Blue can be found on tall grass stems. Scotch Argus are very easy to find because they fly in such huge numbers, they tuck in to grass roots (you can transfer them gently with your finger to a better photo).

That's four species.... maybe other forum users can offer similar tips? I'd certainly like to know!

Chris

Back in the 1960s, I travelled on my one day off down to Wiltshire from East London specifically to see the Purple Emperor. Shortly after leaving home, the July weather clouded up and progressively heavier rain follwed for the rest of the journey. On arrival about 11.30 still raining heavily with everywhere soaked meant a few strides from the car had my lower trousers soaked and laden with water. Never say die me ...

About 12.15 the rain stopped and within a few minutes warm sunshine appeared. That was the signal for all the Purple Emperors in that fine wood to become active. I saw more examples on the wing in the next hour or so than at any time in my life before or since. There was little groups of them flying round young Oaks and other trees at or a little above eye level. In every direction it was possible to see some on the wing. Later still that day, I saw several feeding from running sap on a larger oak ... again just above eye level..... Unforgetable experience. I did not posses a camera back then ....

Insects need warmth before their flight muscles are ready for flight. I've found that 20C or 70F to be the ideal flight temperature. Warm nights will see much moth activity to particularly following light rain.

The poor weather conditions for the morning had obviously frustrated not only me but all the butterflies in that wood. When the sun eventually did appear after that incessant heavy rain all morning, it synchronised the flight activity of all the butterflies in the area who 'made hay whilst the sun shone'.....

Since then, I've made similar observations on days which at first appeared unsuitable.

Continuously sunny hot temperature days can also be unsuitable.... it being so hot that it stops activity and many individuals seek shade away from the heat.

Great replies, cheers
Dave

OK, does anyone know how bad weather will effect the species now? There are bad floods in places and rain is non stop practically. Its supposed to die down by next week in Northern Ireland and just wonderd on how this weather will effect butterfies and moths now?