Edinburgh Zoo (15) - 2 August 2019

Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)

In the grounds of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo. In early August 2019, a so-called 'mass emergence' of Painted lady butterflies was reported. The phenomenon, dependent on weather conditions and food sources, occurs, apparently, every ten years. In 2009, an estimated 11 million of the type were seen in the UK.

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