A BUTTERFLY whose numbers have seen dramatic decline in recent years is breeding in Scotland for the first time in 130 years, experts have said.
The white-letter hairstreak butterfly, which has a distinctive W marking on the underside of its wing, is widespread in England and Wales, but has seen populations drop by almost three-quarters (72 per cent) in the last decade.
The recent falls have come after major declines in the 1970s as a result of Dutch Elm disease, as the species’ caterpillars feed on elm.
READ MORE: Black news on grouse figures as upland species show decline
For a decade, volunteers for wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation have been monitoring the species and its gradual spread northwards – thought to be the result of a warming climate.
Now a handful of eggs of the hairstreak have been found on wych Elm trees – a more resilient variety of elm – at Lennel, near Coldstream, Berwickshire, by amateur naturalists Ken Haydock and Jill Mills.
Director of Butterfly Conservation Scotland Paul Kirkland said: “We will need to have a few more years of confirmed sightings before we can officially class this butterfly as a resident species in Scotland.
READ MORE: Nesting of songbirds harmed by fracking, study finds
“If this happens, it would take the total number of butterflies found in Scotland to 34, which really would be something to celebrate.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here