The warm weather has meant this special summer migrant butterfly has returned to Somerset. Large numbers of Clouded Yellow butterflies have arrived at Greylake during late July. They are enjoying the nectar from our wild flower crop, particularly favouring white clover in flower at the moment. This butterfly is an annual migrant to Britain, with ‘Clouded Yellow summers’ occurring often in summers with significant heat waves..
Photo: Nick Edge
Its deep golden yellow is bordered with a black edge when the wings are open. When closed, the wings are deep yellow. The underwing has a tiny white spot, next to a large white spot, each bordered with a thin pinkish red double circle. Clouded Yellows are fast fliers and let’s face it they need to be to cross the English Channel to get here!
They particularly like nectaring on clover, and will also lay their eggs on lucerne and bird’s foot trefoil flowers. Eggs laid now would hatch into caterpillars very quickly and emerge as adult butterflies by mid September, as this butterfly has a very fast breeding cycle. The butterflies that emerge, will fly south from Britain, as they don’t favour our cold, wet winters! So look out for more clouds of gold at Greylake this September before they head south!
Enjoy a cream tea this Saturday if you're coming to see the clouded yellows! Available 2-3.30pm!!