Where are the butterflies?

[dudleybloke]

Neonicotinoid pesticides are thought to be part of the reason for the drop in numbers.

[mike74]

Not been many flying insects around at all this year, I'm guessing the dry Spring has something to do with it?

The woods in my area are usually a no go zone from mid June-late July because of swarms of flies buzzing all round your head and constantly trying to get in your ears and eyes, but there's been none at all this summer.

[CooperD]

Here are a couple of photos I took in my garden recently. I haven't seen too many around this year but saw a Comma butterfly which I hadn't seen before in my garden. Even my Buddleia didn't seem to attract too many butterflies this year. There didn't appear to be very many Cabbage Whites around which I usually see in decent numbers. Just a few Red Admirals and Tortoiseshells and the one Comma.
[url]

|https://thumbsnap.com/UyuYQynU[/url]

[Long Drax]

Seen very few butterflies this summer.

Sadly, only seen one ladybird, too.

[dudleybloke]

Loads of ladybirds round here the last week or so.

[megamaniac]

Long Drax said:

Sadly, only seen one ladybird, too.

That's because they are all living in our house.

[Martin350]

I was in the Lake District last week and went on a few walks up into the hills / forests.

It was nice to see a good number of butterflies up there. There were Whites, Peacocks, Tortoise Shells, some Blues and I think Meadow Browns.

My camera and it's operator were too rubbish to get any decent photos!

[Jambo85]

Loads of Red Admirals on my buddleia at the moment. Probably the most I have ever seen. Couple of tortoiseshells. Saw the first of the late summer peacocks this morning too.

What I haven't seen are any painted ladies - we had loads last year and as they make their way from North Africa every year it's quite something to have them North of Aberdeen. I seem to remember seeing them in late Aug/Sept last year when things were still flowering, this year it'll all be over by then so I doubt we'll see any.