Elusive and endangered
white-letter hairstreak discovered in a field in the Scottish borders could
become the 34th species to live and breed in the country
Thursday 17 August 2017 16.40 BSTLast
modified on Thursday 17 August 2017 22.00 BST
Scotland has a new species of
butterfly: the elusive and endangered white-letter
hairstreak has been discovered in a field in Berwickshire, 100 metres
from the English border.
It is the first time since 1884
that the butterfly has been sighted in Scotland, raising hopes that
climate change has helped it become the 34th butterfly species to live and
breed in the country.
“Climate change is a double-edged
sword but it’s an exciting time to be in the Scottish borders,” said Paul
Kirkland of Butterfly Conservation Scotland.
“It’s not just butterflies but moths and dragonflies are moving north quite
quickly.”
More than a quarter of Britain’s
59 butterfly species are spreading north, with insects such as the comma moving
about six miles each year. In recent years, butterflies that were once only
found in southern Britain have crossed the border in Scotland, including the
comma and the small
and Essex skippers. Within Scotland, species such as the ringlet, orange
tip and peacock have moved rapidly north and into the Highlands.
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