A rare continental butterfly has turned up in Cornwall, as warm weather draws migrant species across the Channel.
Six-year-old Lola was exploring the Outdoor Gardens at the Eden Project when she spotted something unusual: a Queen of Spain fritillary, one of only a handful recorded in England this year. The Cornwall County recorder at Natural England has since verified the sighting.
The Queen of Spain is a familiar sight across mainland Europe, but a rare guest on this side of the Channel. Small numbers make the crossing most years, though the species has yet to settle as a true UK resident. Between the 1950s and 1990s, it was barely recorded in Britain at all.
Sightings have picked up in recent years, including a short-lived breeding colony in Suffolk in the late 1990s. This year has brought more reports of continental species than usual across southern England, and experts put it down to the weather. Like the painted lady, which arrived in unusually large numbers this summer, the Queen of Spain has enjoyed long spells of warmth: ideal flying conditions for the journey, and better odds of surviving and breeding once it arrives.
Lola said she was “really happy to have spotted a rare-to-the-UK butterfly”. Her mum, Sarah, said Lola has always been fascinated by butterflies and loves learning about the different species.
“Lola keeps a list of all the different butterflies she’s spotted. It’s been such a lovely way to enjoy nature and the outdoors together.
“It was definitely a highlight of the trip for Lola, one she will always remember. We felt very lucky to be visiting such a wonderful place and to spot a beautiful butterfly,” said Sarah.
Julie Kendall, Outdoor Horticulture Manager at the Eden Project, said: “It’s fantastic to have a rare butterfly like the Queen of Spain fritillary found in our gardens.
“We pride ourselves on providing such rich, diverse habitats that support nature of all shapes and sizes – including non-native species that are now finding new homes here as our climate changes.
“Sightings like this are a brilliant reminder that gardens have a real part to play as staging posts for wildlife on the move, and we’d encourage visitors to keep their eyes peeled next time they’re walking through the gardens.”
Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “It’s very exciting to see the Queen of Spain in the UK – it’s a beautiful butterfly and a rare visitor to our shores.
“Sightings like this always capture people’s imaginations and generate more interest in butterflies, which is a great thing.
“Butterflies like hot, sunny weather, so this summer has provided great flying conditions for lots of species. However, butterflies need a lot more than nice weather to do well, which is why Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to providing high-quality habitat for our fantastic native species and our occasional visiting guests.”
