Butterflies

Status: Endangered

ABOUT

The colours on the gracious wings of the butterfly sparkle in the sun and Great Britain and Ireland are very lucky in having fifty six species which call these places home. One hundred and fifty years ago, however, there were sixty species living here. Sadly, since then, four species have become extinct. As with the bee, the main problem the butterfly faces is a loss of habitat. Wild flowers are dwindling in number as farmers are forced to turn to modern methods of farming with the use of artificial pollination and pesticides. Both of these beautiful creatures are being ousted from their natural habitats as a result.

Butterflies are unique in that they are only able to fly if their body temperature is above eighty six degrees Fahrenheit: Too cold and the butterflies will need to warm themselves in the sun first. They can reach speeds between five to thirty miles an hour and the fastest butterflies, such as skippers, can fly at more than thirty miles an hour at times. The slower ones are the poisonous butterflies while non-poisonous butterflies are faster. As butterflies age, their wings fade and become worn.

Butterflies are an incredibly ancient species, having existed on earth for some fifty million years. Along with moths, they comprise a highly diverse group of over a quarter of a million species which make up a quarter of all the named species on earth. Sadly, three-quarters of British butterflies are declining in number and need our help.

We aim to spread awareness of this tragic state of affairs and to help reverse this trend by donating a part of our proceeds to a charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths.