The Big Butterfly Count ends on Sunday. So far, citizen scientists have sent in more than 85,000 counts and recorded more than a million butterflies and day-flying moths.

This new and important data has already revealed some good news about the red admiral (Vanessa atalanta): this year there have been 170,000 sightings, a 400% increase on previous years.

 Red admiral caterpillars build protective tents by folding nettle leaves together with spun silk thread.

Red admiral butterflies are summer migrants that come here from southern Europe. The rising temperature of the climate crisis seems to be altering their behaviour: they are staying here longer before they begin their return flight, and some are overwintering here in sheltered sites in the south of the country.

The adults butterflies that hibernate here in the UK, emerge in the spring with darker colours than we are used to – but more than happy to mate and lay their eggs on fresh springtime stinging nettles weeks before the incoming migrants arrive. Result: more red admirals for a longer period!