Butterflywatch: The tactics different species use to survive winter in Britain

The comma butterfly’s wings resemble dead leaves, which help camouflage it during hibernation. Photograph: Papilio/Alamy

Surviving winter is the ultimate challenge for the 60 butterfly species that make their living in Britain.

Different species use different tactics. The riskiest, and therefore chosen by the fewest, is to hibernate as adult butterflies. Only five species choose this path and they favour cryptic undersides – so they disappear from view when their wings are closed.