📣 New paper 🎉 Proud to have helped with this nice study by @wlangdon12.bsky.social showing a trade-off between nutritional quality & microclimate of host plants for Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). Here in England, they choose warmth over nutrition resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Did you miss our Zoom talk last night? Andrew Wood discusses predicting long term changes to butterfly and moth flight times in this really interesting talk based on branch data. Now available on YouTube! youtu.be/jsFvmdfiq5M @savebutterflies.bsky.social @lnhs.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social

Just a reminder, we have a Zoom talk this evening at 7.30 www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/winter-zoom..... Our branch recorder Andrew Wood will be talking about 'Butterflies in 2025 and can we predict long term changes?' All welcome and no need to book.

Five + Brimstones in Panshanger Park, Hertford, 02/03/2026 Plus four Peacocks. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

1st Commas (2) of the year - at Norton Green Stevenage @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #comma

Orange Underwing just now, Putney Heath, SW London. #MothsMatter

My first butterflies of the year yesterday (25th) - 7 Brimstones and 2 Peacocks Fairlands Valley Park Stevenage @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #brimstone #peacock

First butterfly of the year for me, a Red Admiral at the back of my flat in Enfield (Middlesex) @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

www.bbc.com/news/article... We've made the BBC news. Well done to everyone involved at Millhoppers @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Hedges for Hairstreaks - butterfly ecology of the hedgerow by James Lunt of CPRE Herts. Did you miss it? This talk explores the ecology, history and geography of hedgerows, and why they matter youtu.be/xQhC00a53eo @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The latest on insect declines, neonicotinoids and pet parasiticides youtu.be/f_g9e1LtFY4 via @YouTube

Spotting hedgehogs, birds or butterflies in the city is a cause for celebration. But wildflowers growing on city streets are often seen as a problem. Trevor Dines book and video show people how to fall in love with their pavement weeds @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Did you miss our Zoom presentation on the 21st January - Butterflies of Southern Mexico with Ian Small. It is now available to watch on YouTube - it should certainly brighten up your day! www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jd4... @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Want to beat the winter blues & bring some sun into your room, then tune in tonight to watch the 1st of our series of free winter Zoom presentations. Tonight (21/01/26) Butterflies from Southern Mexico with Ian Small. www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/winter-zoom.... @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Shocking new report reveals high risk of some ecosystems collapsing. Unusual because it’s authored by Military Intelligence. The need to tackle the food, nature and climate crises together is pressing @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social

8 species recorded last night in Bengeo including Acleris literana. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Hedgerow Heroes - Volunteers from Butterfly Conservation and CPRE Herts hedge planting today. The mix 15 plant species for butterflies and moths includes Buckthorn, Blackthorn, Elm and Holly. We’ve planted over 1km of hedge north of Hertford @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

My first butterfly of 2026, a hibernating Peacock, one of five in my shed in St Albans. Strangely a white spit has appeared on the underside. Possibly the result of predator attack? Grateful for any suggestions! @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Here is the review of the 2025 butterfly season in Northamptonshire. It was certainly an interesting year, and it was fantastic to see records from two species that were considered extinct in the county making an appearance! www.northantsbutterflies.com/the-butterfl...

Starting the weekend as we mean to go on: with more positive nature news! Butterflies are booming in Hertfordshire thanks to the efforts of @stalbanscouncil.bsky.social, @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social and several other organisations. 📷: Malcolm Hull

Lovely to see so many @hnhsoc.bsky.social members and guests at a private view for the 'Wildlife for the Record' exhibition at North Hertfordshire Museum this week. I gave a talk marking the end (almost) of the HNHS 150th anniversary year. www.hnhs.org/news/north-h...

A photo from my friend's garden on the slope of Highgate hill in London today. Quite early even for a Brimstone...

These rivers are important conduits for the Brown Hairstreak butterfly's expansion! At least one site that would end up under a runway has reported Brown Hairstreak sightings! @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Large and Small tortoiseshell (grote en kleine vos, N polychloros and A urticae) show opposite trends in their distribution in NL. The Large T used to be rare, and is now widespread, esp. in the eastern half. The Small T is now rare outside the W and N. #vlindermaand

New study using @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social data shows that 125w & 80w bulbs attract more moths than any actinics, and that Robinson and Skinner traps retain more moths that Heath traps #teammoth doi.org/10.1111/icad...

A quick Brown Hairstreak egg survey today at the recently colonised site at Bugs Bottom, Caversham. 10 found in total. Great to see a butterfly that is doing well!

More evidence of negative impacts of artificial light at night on moths - activity of Scarce Bordered Straw moths is naturally concentrated in the first 2hrs of night but activity was suppressed under streetlights www.sciencedirect.com:5037/science/arti... #teammoth #lightpollution 🌍

Butterfly numbers booming in St Albans! Managing meadows with low mow techniques and sowing wildflower seeds have resulted in a big increase in butterfly number. Congratulations to St Albans Council @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Yesterday, I went in search of Brown Hairstreak eggs at #BrookFarmOpenSpace in #LBBarnet. A new site in a known landscape. Pleased to find 19 eggs over 3hrs+.The books say young blackthorn growth, this female hadn't read the book! Record shot of egg on knarled blackthorn! @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

Hard to believe that Hertfordshire Natural History Society's 150th anniversary is drawing to a close. But there's still a celebratory exhibition to come at North Hertfordshire Museum in Hitchin starting 16 December @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social

New research from Belgium doesn’t support the ‘lost generation’ theory for the decline of the Wall, but does show reduced survival with warming temperatures 🌍 nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... (📷 Mark Searle)

Don't forget to book your place @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @lnhs.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social

We are delighted to have @davegoulson.bsky.social give a zoom presentation (joint with #BCSurreySWLondon) on 3rd December. Booking is free but essential www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saving-our... @savebutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/winter-zoom.... Correct date 3rd!

Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa) from Tuesday night in Bengeo. True winter noctuid that arrived in UK in 2011, colonised here in 2018. Population has slowly risen since but local area remains its only stronghold in Herts. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

** BRANCH AGM TOMORROW ** A reminder that the Cambridgeshire & Essex branch's AGM and Members' Day is in-person this year. Foxton Village Hall on Saturday November 8th at 2pm All Cambridgeshire & Essex BC branch members are invited to join us.

The UK Butterflies 2025 Photography Competition is now open for entries and closes on November 30th. The winning photos will be announced in early December and the overall winner will receive a signed Richard Lewington print. See www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB/viewto... for more info. Good luck!

Searching blackthorn yesterday in a new field near the A1 in VC20 for Brown Hairstreak, yealded 8 Blue-borderedCarpet eggs & 2 Oak Eggar(says Obsidentify)caterpillars + the star of the show 2 Brown Hairstreak eggs ✅ My phone doesn't take photos of eggs very well! @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

For many years Saffron Green Open Space near Arkley, has been searched for Brown Hairstreak eggs but in vain. Yesterday Rohan found 1 egg, E of Borehamwood close to the A1 & within 1 km of the site!!! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @hertscc.bsky.social hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/news.php#17376

Fascinating Swedish study proving that threatened butterflies can still disperse surprisingly long distances eg Marsh Fritillary >8km and more than 10% of Large Blues travelled at least 1km resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🌍

@colnevalley.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social @ruislipwoods.bsky.social @woodoaksfarm.bsky.social

....and thats a wrap! Today is the last day to carry out a survey for the 'core' UKBMS survey weeks. 🤞 the weather has been good enough to fit in your final survey. Don't forget to get all your data entered by the END OF OCT, otherwise it may not be included in the analysis 📋 📊 Thank you!

It's taken 5 years to repeat this - my 2nd record of Clifden Nonpariel! It was so big I nearly missed it! My eyes were focused on all the smaller moths as I turned the blue/grey egg box over-132 of 17 macro species last night in VC20. Also new season Satelitte. #Teammoth @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

Don't under estimate Lyme Disease - this is truly an horrific story to read!

Recorded 1st Plumed Fan-foot (Pechipogo plumigeralis) male in Bengeo recently. However tonight this almost pristine female turned up in sitting room. With Ivy (Hedera helix) as one of its hosts plants, species is likely to expand its range rapidly. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

New research - Weak recovery of insectivorous bird populations after ban of neonicotinoid in France, hinting at lasting impacts #pesticides HT @jeroenvandersluijs.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

@colnevalley.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @ruislipwoods.bsky.social @woodoaksfarm.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social #bats #moths

Our butterfly walks programme for 2025 is now complete but we have Brown Hairstreak egg surveys planned and an exciting programme of Zoom presentations coming up. Starting on Wednesday 3rd December at 7.30 - keep that evening free and all will be revealed in due course @savebutterflies.bsky.social

2nd appearance of the Delicate moth in Stevenage garden trap since 2020 @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth #delicatemoth