they are pale, tired washed out because they have travelled from Africa! Not all do the journey as a long haul flight, most breeding along the way, but some DO fly all the way. It was once thought they died when they reached Britan but research in 2009 revealed that they go back to Africa in the Autumn. Read up on Painted Lady migration and be amazed, VERY amazed.
This one hasn't travelled very far. In about a month there will hopefully be thousands maybe even millions if the irruption continues, of British born beautiful Ladies.
j
Maybe they have all taken to wearing sunscreen due to the ozone layer ;)
Sorry, it is an interesting and serious question and I have no idea of the correct answer.
@gilbertwood This is true also, Denise, but there has been an influx on the East coast of worn out Ladies, many who have travelled at least hundreds of miles. As butterflies & moths age they loose scales and therefore colour as well as often parts of wings. Some with "bits missing" may have escaped from birds or other predators.
It astonishes me that something so small has the ability to cross continents when I can misplace myself crossing the road! LOL
There has been a lot of recent research into insect migration. It's fascinating and amazing.
So basically age and or travel have wearied them.
j
@beryl@gijsje@jesika2@mave@carole_sandford@happysnaps@gardencat@foxes37@koalagardens@gilbertwood@merrelyn Thank you everyone for your comments and interest and thank you especially Jesika for the information. This all fits with my theory. All the painted ladies we see in Herefordshire are brightly coloured so my theory was that the butterflies arrive on the East coast and by the time we see them in Herefordshire they are second generation. When we left Herefordshire two weeks ago we were only just beginning to see them. Here in Norfolk they’re everywhere. It all fits! 😁
July 3rd, 2019
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This one hasn't travelled very far. In about a month there will hopefully be thousands maybe even millions if the irruption continues, of British born beautiful Ladies.
j
Sorry, it is an interesting and serious question and I have no idea of the correct answer.
It astonishes me that something so small has the ability to cross continents when I can misplace myself crossing the road! LOL
There has been a lot of recent research into insect migration. It's fascinating and amazing.
So basically age and or travel have wearied them.
j