Bioindicators. Butterflies.
Bioindicators
Butterflies
In the last two decades, the number of butterflies significantly decreased. Previously we could notice dozens of these amazing creatures all over the meadowlands, gardens, and even in forests but now it is not easy to count even a singular number within the same time frame. Why is that so?
Being bioindicators, butterflies can identify any change in the environment and react very fast. Climate is changing, so as landscape, since people are taking more and more of wilderness every day. Less wild meadows mean fewer butterflies.
Pollination of plants in nature is promoted by insects, wild animals, and wind. Especially important are small insects such as wasps, moths, flies, beetles, and finally but not less important, butterflies. The ability to fly makes them superior pollinators since they can bring pollen very far and increase the plant’s chances of surviving.
The primary role of butterflies in nature is to be pollinators and thanks to them, we have very bride variety of plants and their fruits to enjoy. For example, without butterflies, there will be almost non of these products: apples, chocolate, coffee.
If we could show more interest and educate more, some of this majestic world could be saved.
This is a list of common butterfly species-specific primarily for the European continent. Recently this list is published for conservation: the global project includes citizen scientists willing to count and identify butterfly species because their number is significantly decreasing and every count is helpful for a better understanding of the remaining number in nature. This is just one major step to take, preservation could include growing butterflies as it was done many times in schools. Growing them is a wonderful school task teaching kids of the butterfly life cycle as well as about the variety of plants present in their surroundings.
According to this year, a major project about the Butterfly count, below is a list of butterfly species and reference to follow.
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Small White (Peiris rapae)
Green-veined White (Peiris napi)
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Peacock (Aglais io)
Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiouls)
Silver Y (Autographa gamma)
Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendule)
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
