Butterflywatch: hot summer brings hope of exciting migrants

An excellent summer for moths so far may also yet bring us the Camberwell beauty from Finland and ScandinaviaA year of extremes has triggered some unexpected variations in butterfly behaviour, distribution and population. But before we look back, I'm still looking forward with hope.The similarly hot summer of 1976 produced the last vintage season for our most exciting migratory butterfly: the Camberwell beauty. This big, powerful and completely gorgeous insect with wings the colour of crushed plums bordered with blue studs and primrose yellow will be blown in from Finland and Scandinavia if we are blessed with easterly winds in the next few weeks. Continue reading...