Butterflies counted less than in the peak year 2013 – Dutch Daily (subscription)

Butterflies counted less than in the peak year 2013 – Dutch Daily (subscription)

rural garden Butterfly Census, the last three days less than butterflies counted last year. The numerator of the Butterfly Foundation was Sunday just before 20:30 on more than 58 thousand butterflies. In 2013 195 thousand butterflies were finally counted. Yet in 2014, according to the organization a good butterfly year.

Volunteers perform more than five thousand counts nearly 3700 gardens. The little fox was seen by more than 15 thousand times the most. Then came the red admiral (11,500 times), the small cabbage white (6400 times), the large cabbage white (4600 times) and the peacock (three thousand times).

particular areas on the clay soil in the countryside did this good year. In Zeeland, Friesland and Groningen average seventeen to twenty per garden butterflies were counted, significantly more than the average of 11.5.

The Butterfly Foundation suspects that the clay soils do especially well because the good moisturizing and nutrient-rich soils much nettle attract butterflies and cabbage whites, who appreciate the gardens. Sandy soils are generally richer in butterflies, but poorer in butterfly garden.

The greatest diversity occurred in England, where forty of the 52 butterfly species occurring in the Netherlands were spotted.

2013 was an ideal year-round weather conditions throughout the year. A warm summer then followed a cold winter and cool and late spring. As a result, vegetation began to grow slowly and there was enough food for caterpillars. Last year, the peacock was the most counted butterfly garden.

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