www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

The Sunday Times has a "scaremongering" graphic (not my words but those of 17 year old son) about global warming.

The attached picture is something I am knowledgeable about - it's just plain wrong. So how can I possibly have any confidence in the rest of the graphic about things that are outside my field? I simply haven't bothered to look at anything else on the graphic - just as likely to be totally inaccurate.

Jack

ok, that does seem wrong. If you want to do something like that, you should so an actual photo of the thing in question. Thats not even a Large Heath. I would not read that by the looks of it.

Sorry. I had assumed that people would know what a REAL Large Heath looked like. The Sunday Times of course shows some type of skipper.

I took this poor photo of a Large heath at Whixall Moss last summer.

Jack

An example of lazy journalism, Jack.

I haven't read this article but if the writer was worth his/her salt, he/she should have consulted the stock photo library on this very website

I fear that the ill-researched graphic doesn't absolve us of the need to worry about the underlying message of the article.

Bryan

The error would be shocking were it not so typical of the laziness associated with climate change reporting.

I remain sceptical but open-minded on the anthropogenic global warming thesis, but of one thing I am absolutely certain: Gordon Brown is intent upon doing much, much greater harm to the British countryside than the sun. Species can only adapt to the constantly changing climate if there is habitat for them to move south or north into, depending on the current trend. Under GB and his urban cronies there will soon be none left at all.

Get rid of him VERY QUICKLY or I will have to retire in Switzerland. I had hoped to come back to Suffolk, to Adnams beer, long drawn-out sunsets and shingle beaches...

Guy

PS - This is a personal view and does not represent the 'administration' of this forum!!

Yes it does

Cheers,

- Pete

That's good news, Pete!!

Guy

Is the Large Heath in Britain actually at risk from warming climate?

It appears to be a 'northern' butterfly but is this just through lack of suitable habitat in the south? Its European range - Eastern Europe etc - suggests it can cope with warmer summers than we have at present. Warmer winters might be a problem, but its UK distribution is biased towards the warmer west in any case.

I'd have thought the same would be true of its habitat.

It's a slight generalization to say "warmer west". Highest summer temperatures are in the south and east. Winter is indeed warmer near the west coast, but inland districts, eg Shropshire, have recorded the lowest ever temperatures in England.

Quote from Met Office: "Lowest recorded -26.1 °C at Newport (Shropshire) on 10 January 1982". That is about 30 kilometres from the Large Heath strongholds of Whixall and Fenn's Mosses.

However, I would agree that temperature might well have little to do with the British distribution of the Large Heath, suitable habitat being the main limitation.

Jack