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UK butterflies hibernating in winter15/12/2011 16:10:08
Small tortoiseshell butterfly in the Wildlife Extra office in winter. December 2011. It is often at Christmas time that butterflies, particularly Small Tortoiseshells, can be found hibernating indoors. In this holiday season people who have extra guests might start heating the spare room and so awake a butterfly from its slumbers.
It is common for Peacocks to be disturbed in outside locations. In the past they have been found in log sheds and in stacks of hay bales. When they sensed human presence they emitted the characteristic hissing sound! Also there is the report of a lady who, at the onset of cold weather, took down her horse rugs that where hanging in an open fronted barn only to find many Peacocks hibernating there. Brimstones & Commas Brimstones generally hibernate in vegetation like conifers, brambles and ivy. They are well designed to look like a yellowing leaf. Comma butterflies, on the other hand, are designed to look like a dead leaf and so can be found passing the winter in drifts of dead leaves. Red Admirals The fifth butterfly that overwinters as an adult in the UK is Red Admiral. They do not tend to go into deep hibernation so often can be seen on sunny days right through the winter months. It is interesting to learn more about how butterflies spend the winter so do share your discoveries with us.
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