Mountain ringlet: Walkers urged to spot this rare UK butterfly
People visiting the Lake District for a picturesque walk are being asked to not just look at the lovely scenery, but keep their eyes peeled for a rare species of butterfly. The mountain ringlet is England's only mountain butterfly and it's so hard to find that conservationists don't know whether its numbers are going up or down. It's found more commonly in Scotland but the season to see these in Cumbria, England has just started. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is asking people to log any sightings so they can examine how these beautiful insects are responding to climate change.
The timing of when these butterflies emerge is dependent on the weather.They usually emerge in June and fly for up to three weeks. The last week of May is the earliest they've been spotted in Cumbria and they've been seen as late as mid-July. Much like some of us, they're only active in the sun and keep low to the ground!The best place to spot them is when they pause on grass tussocks or feed on flowers.
Conservationists are concerned climate change is forcing the mountain ringlet into smaller areas of habitat as temperatures rise.That's why they're asking people to log any sightings so they can compile a map of where they've been seen and later analyse the butterfly's distribution and how well they breed.Butterfly Conservation North of England manager Martin Wain said: "We urgently need to know more about where it is so we can learn more about how to protect it."Looking for the mountain ringlet can add extra interest to your hike, whether you slow down and mindfully look for it, watch out for it as you eat your sandwiches, or just keep it in mind as you walk."
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