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Butterfly invasion hits Siberia as Black-veined White goes east

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24 June 2017

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'This year, there are a lot of them, and next year there will be even more'

It's been called the 'butterflypocalipse', an invasion of the Black-veined White butterfly which flies under the scientific name Aporia crataegi.

The abundance  of butterflies has led to  unexpected photo and video opportunities in these regions of Siberia.

'In the summer of 2016, the number of butterflies was significantly smaller,' said Vladimir Romanenko, the Head of the Invertebrate Zoology Department at Tomsk State University. 

'This year, there are a lot of them, and next year there will be even more.'

Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia
White invasion! Pictures: Iga Kuvchinnikov, Sasha Ware 


The species has rounded white wings with clear black veins and usually feeds on fruits of the wild bird cherry and apples. 

The species is common in Europe, Asia and North America, but is extinct in the United Kingdsom and northern Scandinavia, migratory in the Netherlands and retreating from France.

The huge colonies in Siberia show no signs of retreat. 

'It's quite common for most insects: for a few years, there are a little less of them, and then their population starts to grow,' said Romanenko.

'Currently, black-veined white butterflies have not yet reached their normal abundance, which is ... oh my goodness how many!'

Butterfly invasion hits Siberia
White invasion! Picture: Iga Kuvchinnikov


The species is known throughout most of Europe, temperate Asia, Korea, and Japan.

It occurs in open forest, grazing land, orchards. lanes, gardens, meadows and thickets.

Extinct in the UK, and on the retreat in western Europe and Scandinavia, the species if prolific this summer in Tomsk and Novosibirsk. Pictures: Iga Kuvshinnikov

Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Butterfly invasion hits Siberia


Comments (7)

beautiful pictures - what an amazing pullulation - it remembers me some explosive numbers of butterflies in French Guiana by the early 2000s.
François, Les Matelles, France
13/07/2017 18:02
3
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fantastic pics. since 1975 not longer seen in the netherlands. proficiat to mrs koenen.
kok van vliet, krimpen aan den ijssel, the netherlands.
11/07/2017 19:08
4
0
Atraves do "Siberian Times" , estou conhecendo, aos poucos, as belezas naturais dessa terra tão rica que e' a Siberia. Parabens! Espero ler mais reportagens semelhantes.
natercio silva, Guaratuba - Parana' - Brazil
03/07/2017 10:19
6
0
Wonderful!
Emre COBAN, Turkey
27/06/2017 00:06
9
1
This is a sign of a disrupted environment - increased variability before a rapid transition to a qualitatively very different state.
Alexaner Ač, Bratislava, Slovakia
26/06/2017 15:24
12
3
When I was a child, Aporia crategi was common on Alps, but now... I have not seen these butterflyes for many, many years. Now at least I can see them in your pictures. Thank you, Siberian Times!
Maria, Italy
26/06/2017 01:52
14
0
Incredible. Beautiful and ..romantic pictures .Thanks
Jocelyne, FRANCE
24/06/2017 21:10
14
0
1

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