Butterflies and the weather

The weather has a great influence on the ability of butterflies and moths to survive and breed. The ideal is settled weather with high temperatures and a suitable mix of sunshine and rain. Drought damages the plants the caterpillars feed on, leading to hunger and a greater risk of attack by parasites.

Cold and too much rain make it hard for the adults to find mates and lay eggs. And the caterpillars catch fungal diseases while also running the risk of falling prey to, for example, birds, whose appetite is greater when the weather is bad.

More photos

A long, dry summer (such as 2018) led to fewer Red Admirals (pictured), Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks in the autumn, because the caterpillars’ food plant, Common Nettle, could not cope with the drought

A long, dry summer parches poor soils, such as the dike at Bøtø. That means fewer visits from the larger butterfly species, e.g. the Peacock, which seeks out other, lusher “pastures”.