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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Patrick Barkham

Butterflywatch: UV torches aid monitoring of rare and elusive species

Purple emperor butterfly on oak leaf basking with wings open.
The purple emperor has a chrysalis which is very well-camouflaged and virtually impossible to find in daylight. Photograph: Nature Picture Library/Alamy

Nature lovers have been enjoying using UV torches to discover the vivid fluorescent colours of plants and animals at night for a few years now.

Now lepidopterists have realised that UV torches provide a highly effective new way to find and count rare and elusive butterflies.

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