Southern Festoon
© Dr Dan Danahar
10/04/2026 Dr Dan Danahar
You may be aware that we are in the deep analysis phase of the data generated by the Corfu Butterfly Survey. Whilst doing this we have discovered a mystery in the data that we need your help to solve this spring!
In a few spots monitored by our most dedicated recorders, we see the Southern Festoon every single year. But in many other places—even where huge numbers were once seen—the record has gone totally silent.
We don't think these big colonies have disappeared. We think the humans have! Most recorders find a "honey pot" of butterflies one year, and then head to a brand-new area the next spring. Because no one goes back to the old "hotspots," it look like they are gone from the map in the later years.
We are looking for "Citizen Scientists" to revisit these 10 High-Count Mystery Sites. These are places where large numbers were seen once, but no one has reported them since. If you find even one butterfly at these coordinates, you are proving that these major colonies are still in existence!
The "High-Count" Mystery List (Decimal Lat/Long):
How to help: Pick a location from the list above, put the coordinates into your phone's map, and head out on a sunny day this April/May. Let us know if the colony still there by uploading any sightings to our website (ionianbutterflyconservation.org).
Finding a butterfly at these "old" spots is a huge win for the conservation of this species, as it proves that Corfu's best habitats are staying healthy!
