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Butterfly Survey 1976-2015
Painted Lady
wingspan: 50 mm
Habit: Swift gliding flight over fields, gardens, parks and urban settings, dwelling occasionally to take nectar among brambles and other herbage, but also on garden flowers and flowering shrubs.
The butterfly follows an overlapping breeding pattern in various countries along a migratory route from Africa, sometimes arriving here - at the very extent of its range, in great swarms.
The butterfly can be seen in the UK from early Summer onwards, but in common with the other vanessids that overwinter as butterflies, it can also be seen in spring. 2010 proved an explosive year for the species, with an estimated hundred million butterflies on the move. 2011 came and went and not a single butterfly was seen locally, implying a breeding and migratory mechanism to be researched. UK bred, late generation, butterflies were observed flying back South in reverse migration during late 2010, which. under certain adverse weather conditionds, might well put the next breeding cycle at risk.
Larval Foodplant: nettle, thistle, burdock - eggs laid singly- larvae typically dark and spiny.
Status: common - fluctuating massively from year to year
WH - White Hill Shoreham, BC - Bromley Common, Ha Hayes --BN Bromley North - Ey Eynsford - Orp Orpington
By Rodney Compton
Emergence times for butterflies is a simple climate change monitor that you can be involved in. Please email your records and images to me and they will be considered for inclusion in the butterfly survey. This is open to individuals or teachers and schools. Click here