According to the Guardian, as the temperatures have warmed up wildlife especially insects have started to move northwards to take advantage of the new habitats.
Naturally in the recent weather it might not feel like Scotland is exactly warming, but overall the there is a slight increase in climate temperature. Butterflies are a good indicator of climate, and one of the most dramatic butterfly movements has been the Orange Tip which 30 years ago was hardly seen in Scotland at all. Today the Orange Tip is found in virtually all of Scotland, as far north as Easter Ross and Sutherland.
Another butterfly species is the Comma Butterfly which has been seen much further north of the previous sightings in southern Scotland. Even Holly Blue and Purple Hairstreak’s have been seen on various National Trust for Scotland properties, whereas three years ago they were only found in England.
Not all wildlife wins out in the changes such as the Mountain Ringlet butterfly, which normally lives in the cooler climates of 350m. As the temperatures warm, there are worries about whether they’ll be able to adapt, but as has been proven in the past insect life has a remarkable ability to adapt to rapid changes.
Insect life movements are important for other wildlife as the foodchain is likely to move with them so in 50 years time, who knows what animals we’ll be seeing in the north of Scotland.
