The sharp swings in temperature this winter and spring have played havoc with the Dutch butterfly population, according to the national flora and fauna data bank.

In the first two months of this year, 45% fewer butterflies were spotted than in January and February 2015. Numbers were 65% down on 2014.

The sharp changes in temperature have hit food supplies by causing flowers to bloom early and then to die off, the data bank said. The large white, or cabbage butterfly, has been hardest hit, with numbers down 75%.