Keep an eye out for those vibrant Painted Ladies, folks! The Bavarian Nature Conservation Association (LBV) is seeking your assistance in tracking their numbers during September. Jump on board the "Butterflies in Focus" project by logging your encounters online of these agile, colorful insects as they flit around.
As autumn approaches, Painted Ladies embark on epic journeys, traveling up to 3,000 kilometers towards the south. This butterfly is experiencing a shift, with climate change leading to increased sightings of it wintering in Bavaria more frequently. LBV aims to shed light on this phenomenon through this project.
This two-faced butterfly, with a bit of a nocturnal streak, is not afraid to venture out in inclement weather. With an impressive proboscis of over 3 centimeters, it's well-equipped to feed on nectar from long-flower corollas, often giving the impression of a hummingbird. As Elisa Treffehn, an LBV expert, puts it, "The Painted Lady hovers near the flower, often mistaken for the small foreign birds that aren't native to Germany."
In March and July, LBV also invited the public to report sightings of other butterflies, with a focus on the Admiral and the Swallowtail.
The "Butterflies in Focus" project relies on your participation to better understand this shift in Painted Lady behaviors related to climate change. By joining forces with the LBV, valuable insights can be gathered.
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Climate change might be influencing the migration patterns and wintering habits of Painted Lady butterflies, but current sources do not provide specific data on the impact in Bavaria. The migratory behavior and appearance of this species depend on environmental conditions and local seasonal cues, which can influence their long-distance journeys. Citizens can contribute to monitoring these changes by sharing sightings, participating in citizen science projects, and supporting research institutions.
