Sasha Jumanca's Image

Sasha Jumanca (Germany/Romania) emphasises the symmetry of the wings of two silver-studded blue butterflies.

It surprised Sasha how many butterflies were “dancing in the air from one flower to the next” in the moorland he was exploring.

Spotting this mating pair, he set about “creating the impression of a new butterfly formed from the two”.

The wings of the male (right) are shimmery blue, while the females are muted brown with a row of red spots.

These small butterflies are found mainly in heathland where the caterpillars feed on heather and gorse.

Silver-studded blues are declining throughout much of Europe as heathlands are lost or fragmented because of farming. They can now only be found in limited areas, but numbers are high in the remaining suitable heathland habitats.

How you can help

• Encourage butterflies and caterpillars in your garden. Encourage native plants that are good hosts for caterpillars. In the UK, suitable options include nettles and thistles. Having a variety of native plants is a great way to encourage a wide range of butterfly species.
• Grow long grass. Mow less frequently and leave patches of longer grass where butterflies can lay their eggs. Find out more about planting a wildlife-friendly lawn.
• Help monitor butterflies. Submit your sightings to a butterfly monitoring scheme. These schemes help scientists keep track of what’s affecting butterfly populations and how best to focus their efforts.