Article in The Independent

[dilettante]

Butterfly effect: why Britain is suddenly all of a flutter

Good to see butterflies being discussed, but with statements like "The wood white is Britain's smallest butterfly", you have to question the authority of the writers.

Also "Five species of British butterfly have become extinct, including the large blue" could have done with some qualification.

[Michaeljf]

Good to see butterflies being discussed, but with statements like "The wood white is Britain's smallest butterfly", you have to question the authority of the writers. Also "Five species of British butterfly have become extinct, including the large blue" could have done with some qualification.

My guess is that the writer Kunal Dutta maybe took interviews over the phone or web and they didn't bother or the Independent had too tight deadlines to get an expert (or 'knowledgeable person' ) to proof-read it before the article went out. You could call the Wood White one of Britains 'most delicate butterflies' but it would never be a contender for the smallest. Although it's nice to see any article in a mainstream newspaper on butterflies, there perhaps should have been a proviso about a dry, arid summer could be just as bad for many species. Just ask Jack Harrison!

Michael

[David M]

The article is full of errors. The 'Wood White', according to the author, is increasing in numbers "with the most sightings in Herefordshire, Buckinghamshire and across Ireland". Clearly, Réal's Wood White would be responsible for the bulk of those sightings.