www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I thought it right to introduce myself. Interested in all living things particularly British ones. I attempting to get decent photo's of butterflies, moths and any other insects that turn up. I'm not specially good at it but enjoy it anyway.

I live in North Hampshire and have recently moved to a new village. I keep a record of all butterflies seen in our garden and also any other localities that I visit. For the last two years, I have not recorded a single Small Tortoiseshell. This used to be as common as Large Whites. I recently visited a Garden centre that has a collection of Buddleia's of many types. I have not seen so many butterflies in one place, since I was a child. There were many Red Admirals, Painted Ladies Comma's, Brimstone's and I got some very good shots of one of the three Humming Bird Hawk moths that were there, bur not one Small Tortoiseshell.

Has anyone else had the same experience? Has something dreadful happened to them?

Thanks
BG

Hi, nice to meet you.
The subject of small tortoiseshells has cropped up a couple of times in these forums with most remarking on a drop in numbers. A possible cause that was discussed is disease that affects the caterpillars. As little as three years ago I remember seeing dozens emerging in Summer on my local patch but only one or two this year. Let's hope it's a cyclical thing and that they bounce back next year.

Yep it is a shame, S Tortoishell is one of my favourites too, I remember seeing them everywhere as a child.

Isn't it something to do with a parasitic wasp that lays its eggs inside of the caterpillar?