Bumper Year for Butterflies

The last bumper year for this beauty was 1983, and we had to wait until 1996 before we saw another, though smaller number. Either side of these years there were smaller numbers, and the present summer seems to be part of the irruption of the late 1990s.

Once seen, this insect is never forgotten. The combination of deep crocus yellow with black edged wings is extremely striking and makes a lovely contrast. There is nothing else like it in the UK.

My photograph does not do justice, especially to the female, which is the bigger and brighter of the sexes with lovely, deep yellow-orange.

Richard Williamson's Nature Trails appears in the West Sussex Gazette every week. You can read the full version of this article in September 22