Scarce Tortoiseshell Nymphalis xanthomelas

Don't let the name fool you — while generally uncommon in western Europe, this butterfly is capable of dramatic population explosions that send waves of individuals irrupting far beyond their normal range. Every few years, lucky observers in western Europe spot individuals that have wandered hundreds of miles from their usual haunts in eastern Europe and Asia.

Like its relative the peacock butterfly, it overwinters as an adult, tucking itself into tree hollows, barns, or rock crevices and sleeping through the cold months. When spring arrives, it's one of the first butterflies on the wing — a bright, tattered survivor of winter emerging before most other species have even hatched.