Fraught future for our butterflies

CONCERNS have been raised about British butterflies. I have been breeding red admiral, comma, small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies for 40 years. Though the red admiral (right

with Ray) has done fantastically well this year, that is due to the decline of the wasp predator of its caterpillar and pupa. The comma could well be struggling next year owing to being attacked by the Sturmia

bella fly. The small tortoiseshell has not done that well and the peacock even worse — I did not find a single caterpillar to breed. Both were hit hard last year by the

ichneumon wasp. All these butterflies hibernate and damp winters are taking their toll on them. They feed on nettles, which are being crowded out by blackberries and tall grasses.