As the planet heats up, butterflies are seeking out cooler climes
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Climate change is driving shifts in where butterflies are found globally, according to a major new study, with some species moving northwards or seeking out higher elevations in search of cooler conditions.
Issued on: 09/08/2026 - 15:39 2 min Reading time The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, is one of the most comprehensive to date on how butterfly distributions are changing, assessing more than 1,700 species across 105 countries and territories.
Researchers found that nearly 80 percent of the reported shifts in the geographic ranges of butterflies were associated with climate c
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Climate change is driving shifts in where butterflies are found globally, according to a major new study, with some species moving northwards or seeking out higher elevations in search of cooler conditions.
Issued on: 09/08/2026 - 15:39 2 min Reading time The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, is one of the most comprehensive to date on how butterfly distributions are changing, assessing more than 1,700 species across 105 countries and territories.
Researchers found that nearly 80 percent of the reported shifts in the geographic ranges of butterflies were associated with climate c