The ‘Living’ Churchyard - October

by Nigel Symington

As I look through the meadow for signs of life, my eye is caught by a beautiful Red Admiral basking on a gravestone. Adult butterflies fade and lose scales from their wings. The edges get battered as they age – they only live a matter of days as adults – but this one is in pristine condition, with brilliant colours and perfectly formed wings. Red Admirals are one of the five species of butterfly that overwinter as adults. They go into hibernation in piles of leaves, dark corners of sheds, or even churches. They may come out and fly on warm days – you can see a Red Admiral on the wing in any month of the year. If you do see one, please don’t be tempted to catch it: it will find its own way back into shelter as the temperature drops and there is always the risk of damaging it by handling.

Another adult butterfly you may see now is the Painted Lady. This large, orangey coloured butterfly would perish in the European winter. Sensibly it migrates to the desert margins of Northern Africa and Arabia for the winter. It may go through three complete breeding cycles on its way North, so the insects that fly back again in autumn are at least the great grandchildren of the ones that set off in spring. How do they find their way back? This is one of the mysteries of the insect world, although it is known that they fly fast and at heights up to 600 metres. They are near relatives of the Red Admiral, some of which also migrate to Southern Europe for the winter. Both of these are strong flyers and in early summer may be difficult to get close to. But in late summer they are intent on filling up with nectar so as to have the energy for their long flight South or their migration: at this time of year they are much more approachable as they may spend several minutes on each flower head to take in as much fuel as possible before moving on.

Most butterflies are unable to take wing in winter: as insects, they are cold blooded and are physically unable to do so when the temperature is low. They therefore enter their dormant stage at this time of year, most species as caterpillars, ready to continue their life cycle when the warmth of spring wakes them up again.