Mediterranean butterfly spotted in the UK for the first time - twice! - Butterfly Conservation
Butterfly experts have been sharing their excitement after a species from southern Europe was confirmed to have been seen in the UK for the first time.
Two sightings of the Southern Small White have now been verified - one in Suffolk and one in County Durham.
It comes after the UK recorded its warmest and sunniest-ever spring, which has prompted a flurry of unusual butterfly and moth activity.
Dr Dan Hoare, Director of Nature Recovery at Butterfly Conservation, said: "For us ecologists this is really exciting: it's always interesting when a new species turns up in the UK, but the Southern Small White has been gradually moving northwards through Europe for over a decade and we were just waiting for it to be seen in England for the first time. Top marks to the eagle-eyed snappers who not only got photos, but also realised the significance of what they’d seen.”
Posted On: 11/08/2025
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