Post

Reflecting on the butterfly year - I noticed far fewer peacock, skipper and comma butterflies this year. How did they fair with everyone else?

30/9/26, 6:45 am2 reposts8 likes

Ralph Darvill

@tringdriventhing.bsky.social

Far fewer commas, virtually no small tortoiseshell, fewer Essex skippers. Normal numbers of peacock, red admiral etc. This is NW Herts, in The Chilterns.

Dr Cinnamon Remote

@cinnamonremote.bsky.social

Very vague, no notes taken, but, fewer overall, in the garden did get holly blue, spotted wood, peacock, small tortoiseshell, white, painted ladies and up to three hummingbird hawk moths! (Thought there was just one, but one evening I discovered three roosting in the valerian).

duleyp.bsky.social

@duleyp.bsky.social

The only one of those we usually get in the garden is the Comma, and I've not seen any this year. One that usually does well is Speckled Wood, and I feel like I saw fewer of those. Others did better than normal, I think.

Jack Wallington

@jackwallington.com

Yes same here with speckled wood, saw some but not as many. I wonder if the very dry and hot end to summer made it harder or something else. I saw lots of peacock caterpillars but then very few late summer adults.