Experts raise concerns after spotting rare creature far from usual habitat: 'It's basically colonized'

Butterfly experts are sounding the alarm after finding a particular species farther north than ever before. They pointed to climate change as a likely contributing factor to the butterfly's migration.

What's happening?

Conservationists in the United Kingdom spotted the first Southern Small White butterfly on Landguard Nature Reserve in Suffolk in early August. An expert with the Dutch Butterfly Conservation confirmed the identification, with scientists calling the discovery an "ecological leap."

"There are species that are rare in the U.K. and periodically over the years they have turned up in ones and twos ... but it's not really indicating any significant shift in our fauna," said Dr. Dan Hoare, director of nature recovery at Butterfly Conservation, per the BBC.

"Southern Small White is very different. It's basically colonized northern Europe from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea in the last decade, moving north at a rate of about 100 kilometres [62 miles] a year."

Why is butterfly migration important?

The presence of the Southern Small White butterfly in the U.K. is likely an indicator of climate change. In recent years, the species has extended its range from southern Europe as far north as the Netherlands. The migration points to warming weather conditions.

The discovery shows that the planet is heating up faster than expected. A 2008 study predicted that even under the most extreme climate warming conditions, the species shouldn't have been seen in the U.K. until after 2050.

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What's being done about butterfly migration and the climate?

As with all wildlife, observation is key to understanding why Southern Small White butterflies are moving north. The Suffolk branch of the Butterfly Conservation department put out an identification guide to help neighbors record the presence of the species.

In the meantime, it's important to stay updated on critical climate issues. Education and information are the primary ways to move toward a cleaner, safer future for all.

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