14 DAY TRIAL // According to experts in the United Kingdom, a number of butterfly species that are endemic to southern England are currently moving farther and farther north, due to favorable climate conditions brought on by global warming.
Just a few decades ago, it would have been impossible for common species of butterflies – including Comma, the Speckled Wood (pictured) and Peacock – to survive in northern England, but temperatures have been going up steadily at these latitudes, so the insects can now range more and more.
This is even more interesting when you consider that more than 75 percent of all butterfly populations in the UK are decreasing in both level and range. This trend has been going on for more than a decade, but apparently a minority of species if better equipped to handle climate change, the Daily Mail reports.
However, not all species that move northwards do so quickly. While some butterflies occupy new habitats at a very fast pace, others register minimal expansion. Scientists say that a number of conservation efforts may still be needed to ensure that populations do not go down beyond levels that ensure their survival.