The butterfly that's coming back from the brink
Chloe Mnatzaganian
Junior Researcher
Behold the comma butterfly. It’s an insect that we know and love, but in the last couple of centuries this species has experienced dramatic population changes in the UK.
Orange and brown in appearance, with a distinctly ragged wing edge, the comma is a familiar inhabitant of our gardens and woodlands. Its irregular wing shape and brown underside make for fantastic camouflage when resting, so that it resembles an old dying leaf. Its larvae are also suited for camouflage, as the brown and white colouring looks similar to bird droppings!
Though the species is sighted in a large range of habitats, commas are most frequently seen in vegetation around canals and rivers. Adults are most likely seen foraging on bramble, thistles and knapweed - and their caterpillars feed on nettles and hops.
"Since the 1970’s the Comma has increased its distribution 250 miles northward in England, Wales, the Isle of Man, and on into Scotland."
The comma is one of a handful of butterfly species which has notably expanded its UK range in recent years – though it’s taken some bumps along the way to get there. Rewinding back to the 1800s this butterfly was found far and wide across England, Wales and parts of Southern Scotland.
However, midway through the 19th century the UK population drastically declined and became confined to the western part of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, turning the once common species into a rarity. It is suspected that this decline might have been caused by the decrease in hop farming in the country, which was a vital caterpillar foodplant at the time.
After surviving for 100 years as a small population, the comma’s state took a massive turn for the better. Since the 1970’s the comma has increased its distribution 250 miles northward in England, Wales, the Isle of Man, and on into Scotland. It has also had an incredible 138% increase in population over the last 40 years! Scientists believe that these positive trends are due to climate change and the increased use of the common nettle as a caterpillar food plant.
It has still not been plain sailing however, with the comma experiencing recent poor years in both 2012 and 2016. The Big Butterfly Count 2017 is continuing until this Sunday (August 6th) and this year Butterfly Conservation is asking volunteers to look out for Commas near riversides and canals.
The results of this survey will add to the UK records and distributions for this butterfly, as well as potentially providing insight into the past populations fluctuations and trends. Hopefully with this kind of work we can better understand this beautiful species to ensure that it is with us for centuries to come.
