Some butterfly species like it hot

Different responses: Scientists are seeing variations in the distribution and abundance of butterfly species, due to changes in the climate. Photo: EPA

Certain species of moths and butterflies are becoming more common, and others rarer, as species differ in how they respond to climate change.

Using data collected by thousands of volunteers through “citizen science” schemes, scientists analysed how the abundance and distribution of 155 species of British butterflies and moths have changed since the 1970s. They discovered that responses to recent climate change were seen to vary greatly from species to species.