Windsurfing insects move at 100km per hour

A team of Yorkshire scientists have discovered millions of the insects manage an incredible 2000km odyssey between England and Africa every year by using a sophisticated in-built compass.

The remarkable discovery was made by scientists from the Department of Biology at York University, following three years of painstaking research into the migratory patterns of moths and butterflies.

The team used state-of-the-art radar equipment to track the insects during flight.

Their data reveals the insects' previously unknown migratory techniques, which allow them to surf winds to travel at speeds of 100km an hour.

Dr Jane Hill, who has studied insects for 20 years at York University, said: "We are all amazed at the results.

"Far from being blown around at the mercy of the wind, these insects use very sophisticated techniques to travel.

"This is the biggest discovery I have ever made and the techniques we used throughout allowed us to study things in parts of the world that we could never get to before.

"One of the problems with studying insects is when they are airborne they just disappear.

"Being able to study them in the air you find out how capable they are."

The team, which also included York PhD student Rebecca Nesbit, focused their study on red admiral and painted lady butterflies as well as moths.

The insects make their incredible journey every year to avoid British winters.

They migrate south in autumn, to sites around the Mediterranean and North Africa, before making the return journey to the UK in spring.

The team were joined in their research by Rothamsted Research, the Met Office, the Natural Resources Institute, and the Universities of Exeter and Greenwich.