Ulster's butterflies are breaking emergence records - thanks to the remarkably warm spring weather. Insect experts say five of the butterfly species found in Northern Ireland were spotted earlier than ever before as the Province enjoyed a balmy April that was warmer than most Mays.
The colourful insects are emerging weeks ahead of schedule - and it could be a sign of global warming. Fourteen species of butterfly have already been spotted in the Province this year and there wasn't a month when a butterfly wasn't seen, according to Trevor Boyd, the Butterfly Recorder for Northern Ireland. And five species have broken records for early sightings, he said.
The peacock butterfly was first seen in January, with unusually early sightings of the speckled wood, the green-veined white, the small copper and the holly blue, all in April. Other species are also showing up ahead of schedule, including the small tortoiseshell, seen in January and February, the large white, first spotted on April 16, and the orange tip, which were seen in their masses in April.
There has even been a sighting of a huge migrant moth which usually doesn't arrive at these shores from Spain until June, Mr Boyd said. A hummingbird hawk moth was recorded in Lisburn on April 3.
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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2499869.ece
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