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The naturalist asks why the Large Blue butterfly died out in the UK - and the challenge of its reintroduction. From 2009.

The Large Blue butterfly died out in Britain in 1979, but why?

Investigations pointed to a complex life cycle linked to a single species of ant.

With this knowledge the Large Blue was re-introduced into the British countryside, but there is a sinister twist in the tale, in the form of a parasitic wasp.

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world.

Producer: Julian Hector.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2009.

10 minutes

Last on

Mon 28 Jul 202501:45
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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