British Wildlife’s new two-part series examines our attitudes to and perceptions of butterflies. In this first part, the author considers the changeling nature of these fascinating insects.
Somehow, butterflies counterbalance acute vulnerability with a remarkable ability to exploit windows of opportunity, but they are insects, after all. Given the quickening pace of environmental change – involving climate, habitat patch, and landscape suitability and connectivity – our butterflies now epitomise the wildlife ‘winners and losers’ game. Theirs are the wings of change.