Rare butterflies are flourishing again thanks to record-breaking weather last spring, say conservation experts.
The insects emerged weeks earlier than usual and numbers of some of the rarest breeds doubled in a year.
The pearl-bordered fritillary saw its population rise by 103 per cent between 2010 and 2011 thanks to the hot, dry weather.
Other rare butterflies to flourish were the duke of burgundy, which saw a 65 per cent rise after years of decline, and the grizzled skipper, whose population rose by 96 per cent.
Dr Tom Brereton, head of monitoring at the Butterfly Conservation charity, said: ‘The great spring weather provided respite for our beleaguered butterflies but conservation efforts are needed to reverse long-term declines.’
The data, collected by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, recorded major declines for some common species.