Scots are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for some of the nation’s favourite and most colourful butterflies.

Mid-August should be peak season for butterflies such as the peacock, small tortoiseshell and comma, but staff at wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation Scotland say they have received very few sightings so far in 2016.

Members of the public are now being asked to send in their sightings of butterflies in urban areas to help researchers see how the insects are faring in towns and cities.

The information will then be used to create butterfly-friendly habitats as part of the charity’s Urban Butterfly Project.

Anthony McCluskey, the charity’s project officer, said: “We have received very few records of these species despite the fact that urban areas are real havens for them.

“We are hoping that the wet weather has simply delayed their appearance, as they are normally seen in much greater numbers in July and August.”

The Urban Butterfly Project covers the central belt and is being funded for three years by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Any sightings can be sent directly to Mr McCluskey or recorded on the free iRecord Butterflies app.

Full details are available on the Butterfly Conservation Scotland website.