Where have all the butterflies gone?

Damien Enright on missing moths and butterflies.

WHEN the sun shines, a speckled wood butterfly energetically patrols the pathway underneath our balcony. It is not a colourful or showy species but, given the almost total absence of butterflies this year, it is a joy to behold.

Usually speckled woods are found in sunny glades which they defend robustly and where they do their courting. Once, the species was called the wood argus after the multi-eyed Greek hero because of the many white spots or ‘eyes’ on its velvet-brown wings.