Queen of Spain butterflies arrive in Britain
Queen of Spain butterfly invades Britain – but will it become native?
Friday, 30 October 2026
Photo by Judy Beth Morris on Unsplash
Warm-up
- What butterflies can you see in your country?
- Do you like watching insects? Why or why not?
- How can gardens help wildlife?
Vocabulary
- butterfly
- an insect with large colourful wings that flies in the daytime
- native
- living and growing naturally in a place
- expert
- a person who knows a lot about a subject
- migrant
- an animal or person that moves from one place to another
- breed
- to have babies or produce young
- caterpillar
- the long, soft young form of a butterfly or moth
- plant
- a living thing that grows in soil, such as a flower or tree
- pansy
- a small garden flower; here, food for the caterpillar
Reading
Listen to this story
British EnglishThousands of Queen of Spain butterflies, a golden-coloured species, have arrived in Britain. Sightings stretch from the south coast to East Anglia. Many likely came from France and Spain, and other migrants flew from the Netherlands. The insects have bred, and British-born young appeared in autumn.
An expert, Neil Hulme, said this looks like a strong push to settle. If it succeeds, the butterfly could become Britain’s 61st native species. Even so, so many arrivals mean people may see the species again next spring.
Hundreds were reported at East Tilbury and Linford beside the Thames in Essex. To help, butterfly-lovers can plant wild and field pansies, which are the caterpillar’s food plants. Gardens and parks with these plants could give this visitor a better chance to stay.
Comprehension
- Where in Britain have many of the butterflies been seen?
- From which countries did some migrants come?
- What has already happened with the insects in Britain this year?
- Why might people see the species again next spring?
- What plants can people grow to help the caterpillars?
Grammar focus
How questions
Use How to ask about ways or methods. Form: How + do/does/did + person/thing + base verb? Use do/does for now; did for the past. (Examples constructed.)
- How did so many butterflies arrive?
- How do gardeners help the species?
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each question.
- How (parks do / do parks) help the species now?
- How (does the butterfly / the butterfly does) become native?
- How (did experts / experts did) describe the push?
- How (people do / do people) see them in spring?
- How (did arrivals / arrivals did) spread across East Anglia?
Discussion
- Should Britain try to help this butterfly settle? Why or why not?
- How do parks and gardens in your area support insects?
- What simple steps can people take to protect wildlife?
- Which wildlife visitor would you like to see in your town?
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