Dr Marcus Rhodes

Spring is slowly creeping back to the northern hemisphere!

An aggregation of black, spiny Marsh Fritillary caterpillars basking communally on a patch of turf.

An aggregation of Marsh Fritillary caterpillars basking on a fallen leaf.

Four clusters of Marsh Fritillary caterpillars basking communally adjacent to a Molinia tussock.

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars have emerged from winter diapause and were communally basking in the sunshine at Church Hay Down today.

FIRST REPORT: Green-veined White. 24th Feb. East London

@richardfoxbc.bsky.social

FIRST REPORT: Holly Blue, 25th Feb '26. East London

@richardfoxbc.bsky.social

FIRST REPORT: Speckled Wood. 25th Feb '26. Essex

@richardfoxbc.bsky.social

The farmers fighting to save the Duke of Burgundy butterfly Sonja and Perin Dineley are working to restore biodiversity to their agricultural land.

The farmers fighting to save the Duke of Burgundy butterfly www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers clearing Buddleia from around a mine engine house.

Before: Buddleia, Sallow and Bramble encroaching into sparsely vegetated, short grassland surrounding a mine engine house.

After: Buddleia, Sallow and Bramble have been cleared from around the engine house to expand the area of grassland.

Last Monday was Cornwall Butterfly Conservation's final work party of the winter. We were clearing Buddleia and scrub at Cook's Kitchen (South Crofty Mine) to restore habitat for Dingy Skipper. This active mine is currently the only confirmed site for Dingy Skipper within the Camborne-Redruth area.

Evolution, genomics and conservation of butterflies and moths - Nature Reviews Biodiversity Butterflies and moths are key indicators of functioning and healthy ecosystems around the world. This Review describes the evolutionary history of the order Lepidoptera and tracks shifts in researcher...

Now online! In this review, we cover four major topics on butterflies and moths: their evolutionary history and diversification dynamics, genomics, global diversity patterns, and conservation 🦋🌏 (1/8) @natrevbiodiv.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

This is becoming a pervasive issue, for example involving the sidelining of actual experts and the heaping of pressure on regulatory bodies to move forward with dubious (re)introductions. A quick ecology 101 for ‘conservation gurus’. Thread 🌍🦗🦋🪶🦬🧪1/

At long last the weather is improving this weekend. So if you want to get outdoors its a great opportunity to join one of our Duke of Burgundy Work Parties and help save the Dukes Please do come and help.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers removing scrub and saplings from an area of heathland with the Carnon Valley Viaduct in the background.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers were working with the Environment Agency in the Carnon Valley today. We were cutting back Gorse and using tree poppers to remove Birch saplings as part of heathland restoration for Grayling. The site has also supported Silver-studded Blues in the past.

Come and Join Us!

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers planting Violets in rain and fog on a Bracken-covered hillside with scattered Oak trees.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers stood huddled in the rain on a Bracken-covered slope, discussing the planting plan for Violets.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers planting Violets along a mown path through the Bracken and scattered Oak trees.

Trays of Common Dog Violet plug plants next to a patch of Violets planted amongst Bracken litter.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers had a rather sodden time of it on Bodmin Moor today. We were planting Common Dog Violets to increase the breeding habitat along a new corridor connecting two colonies of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. At least they've had a good watering in!

Tadpoles in the flooded trackways on Goonhilly Downs this afternoon (likely laid as spawn back in November).

The Map butterfly differs in wing size and color between seasons. We tested how these differences influence body temperature dynamics, revealing potentially optimized thermal performance between seasons. 🦋☀️

The study, led by Dani and Irča, is in preprint version: doi.org/10.64898/202...

Two flowers of Three-lobed Crowfoot emerging from a puddle. Each tiny flower has five white petals, a yellow centre, and is held singly above the surface on a stem.

A mat of Three-lobed Crowfoot floating on the surface of a puddle. Each leaf is sub-divided into three lobes, with each lobe in turn further sub-divided in three. Tiny, white flowers are held singly above the water surface on stems.

A mat of Three-lobed Crowfoot floating on the surface of a puddle. Each leaf is sub-divided into three lobes, with each lobe in turn further sub-divided in three. Tiny, white flowers are held singly above the water surface on stems.

Three-lobed Crowfoot is at peak flowering just now in the Mediterranean temporary ponds on the Lizard Heaths. #WildflowerHour

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers clearing scrub on a steep, heather-covered slope.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers were back at Wheal Maid today continuing with our heathland restoration for Grayling and Silver-studded Blues. A sunny, spring-like day with Buzzards mewing overhead; a Peacock butterfly was making the most of the newly exposed bank to bask.

A Peacock butterfly with red wings, each with an iridescent eyespot, basking on a rock.

Yay! My first butterfly of the year: a Peacock out enjoying the sunshine at Wheal Maid.

Phengaris teleius (Scarce Large Blue) in a French meadow. One of the 17 species in the European Grassland Butterfly Index. Photo: Martin Warren)

The latest European Grassland Butterfly Indicator is out. It shows that grassland butterflies have declined by 47% since 1991, indicating a huge loss of grassland biodiversity. The data come from 16,150 transects & 15,000 volunteers. We are calling for urgent action. www.bc-europe.eu/documents/69...

Rare butterflies bounce back after landowners in Wales cut back on flailing hedges More than 300 brown hairstreak butterfly eggs were recorded in hedgerows near Llandeilo this winter after decade of decline

Brown Hairstreaks bounce back after landowners in Wales cut back on flailing hedges www.theguardian.com/environment/...

We’ve published our response to the "Lost Frogs report".

Read our statement here: https://www.arc-trust.org/lost-frogs-report-comment-from-amphibian-and-reptile-conservation-trust

I found the first Clouded Yellow caterpillars of 2026 today on the transect.
Only 2 seen, but clear evidence that they continue to overwinter at Southbourne despite what the British winter weather is throwing at them.

Southbourne
Dorset

A Red Admiral butterfly sitting with its wings spread wide open on a grey painted wooden shed in bright sunshine. There are tall shrubs behind the shed with a mix of bare branches and evergreen leaves and a big patch of blue sky.

Close up of the Red Admiral butterfly sitting on grey painted wood. The wings of the butterfly are dark blackish brown with a broad red band across the middle of the forewing, running top to bottom and a red band along the rear edge of the hind wing. There are several large white spots on the black area of the forewing towards the tips.

Spent most of yesterday staring at specimens down the microscope but when I had a chance to venture into the garden I was amazed to see my first butterfly of the year - a Red Admiral basking in sunshine on the shed.

Today we are back to dull dreary weather in Norwich.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers cutting scrub in the rain.

Before: a heathland-covered slope encroached with Gorse, Sallow and Cotoneaster.

After: Gorse, Sallow and Cotoneaster have been removed from the slope, exposing the heathland and patches of bare ground.

An intrepid band of volunteers braved the rain today for Cornwall Butterfly Conservation's work party at Wheal Maid. We were removing encroaching Gorse, Sallow and Cotoneaster from a south-facing slope to restore the heathland for Grayling and Silver-studded Blues.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

The heart-shaped leaves of Lesser Celandine growing amongst moss with a single yellow flower beginning to open.

Yay! A Lesser Celandine on the verge of opening at Pengelly this afternoon - my first of the year.

Red Admiral, 16th January 2026

Turnip Moth, 15th January 2026

Some lepidoptera interest in the Obs garden: first butterfly of the year - a Red Admiral - on the wing just now; yesterday, the first presumed migrant moth of the year - a Turnip - from the moth-traps

A Brimstone butterfly with sunlight and ivy leaves.

A photo from my friend's garden on the slope of Highgate hill in London today. Quite early even for a Brimstone...

We’ve published our latest statement on reintroductions, assisted colonisation and the importance of evidence-led conservation.
You can read our latest statement here ⬇️
https://www.arc-trust.org/News/ensuring-amphibian-and-reptile-releases-contribute-to-natures-recovery

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers carrying out habitat management on a steep, Bracken-covered hillside.

Before: a narrow path traversing a Bracken-covered hillside with scattered trees.

After: Bracken litter and Brambles have been cut each side of the path to promote Violet germination and create a warm, sunny microclimate for the Fritillary caterpillars.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers were at Fellover today for our first work party of the New Year. A mild, sunny winter's day bearing the promise of spring: we were serenaded by a Song Thrush as we carried out Bracken management for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries.

A Snakelocks Anemone in a shallow rockpool. Its long, green tentacles are tipped with purple.

A Snakelocks Anemone in a shallow rockpool. Its long, green tentacles are tipped with purple.

Low tide at Kennack Sands exposing the sandy beach with sea cliffs beyond.

Snakelocks Anemones revealed on the low tide at Kennack Sands this afternoon.