Manx conservationist mystified by 1,600-mile butterfly journey
This summer has seen tens of thousands of painted lady butterflies arrive on Manx shores.
The 'huge influxes' have been reported across many parts of the British Isles after they made the 1,600-mile journey from North Africa.
Garry Curtis of Manx Butterfly Conservation says his colleagues in Ireland predicted this summer would see a bumper of migrants:
It comes after groups in Cyprus reported the numbers of butterfly to be in the millions.
Sunday night saw kaleidoscopes swarm in their thousands to the Isle of Man, in spite of stormy conditions over the Irish Sea.
"It sounds ridiculous," Mr Curtis told Manx Radio.
"I still don't understand, but we had an observer advise us that they saw two flying in off the sea about half an hour after the rain stopped."
"But that means that those butterflies have actually been in flight while it's been raining."
"So I have to put my hands up and say it's a bit of a mystery how they've done it."
"I just admire them for their tenacity."
Manx Butterfly Conservation later called it an 'invasion':
Missed opportunity in inmate's care, inquest finds
Seven arrests made as part of King Gaming fraud and money laundering investigation
Motorists urged to avoid Cooil Road following RTC
Probation for man caught with knife at Sea Terminal
Warning after tea towel tumble dryer fire
Calls for Sarah's Law on Isle of Man
