Butterflies, ladybirds

Sightings of most insects, including bees, butterflies and ladybirds, remain the same. Kate says: “Our gardens are fantastic refuges for bees, with the honeybee, around 10 species of bumblebee and at least 20 species of solitary bee, likely to be spotted. To attract the greatest range of bees, grow as wide a variety of flowers as possible, from bowl- and daisy-shaped blooms, to those with long flower tubes such as foxgloves and honeysuckle. Clover, be it in your lawn, a plant pot or your borders, is one of the best bee plants available.“

Harlequin ladybirds (non-native Harmonia axyridis) saw a 5% rise on 2016. Richard says: “Since it first arrived in the UK in 2004, this invasive alien has spread throughout almost all of lowland Britain. Its large size and propensity to come indoors to make hibernation huddles makes it very noticeable. Local populations do fluctuate, however, for some not very well understood reasons.“ Richard says: “There was a major influx of the lovely, migratory Red Admiral butterflies, especially in late summer and well into the warm sunny autumn. This may have had as much to do with climate effect in the Mediterranean and Central Europe than with our changeable weather.“

Sightings of most other butterflies remained unchanged, apart from the Large White, Common Blue, Green-Veined White and Painted Lady, which all saw small declines. Richard says: “Painted ladies are migrants from continental Europe; they appear to have had a poor year, or at least a not very adventurous one.“