It was interesting to read Paul Brazier's letter (September 13), in which he said this summer had been wonderful for butterflies.

The dry, hot weather has been good for insects in general and many people around Brighton and Hove have reported seeing unusual moths, spiders and beetles.

The downside has been more pests on our plants than usual.

Mr Brazier raises a point worthy of consideration when he says: "Is it possible butterflies are being destroyed in the name of tidiness?"

The life cycle of butterflies and moths is complex and delicate and many never reach the final stage of emergence.

It is often during the earlier of the four stages of the life cycle - egg, caterpillar, pupa (chrysalis) and finally adult - that many are destroyed.

I have enclosed a picture of a Small White and its pupa as many people don't know what a pupa looks like.

Tidying flower patches, ivy, shrubs and sometimes just sweeping walls, patios and balcony roofs etc can destroy these delicate life stages.

As we are now in September, pupa will have formed, so look carefully for them - seeing the butterfly emerge is a worthwhile experience.

We can attract butterflies to gardens by leaving a patch of long grass during the summer or sinking a large container of stinging nettles into the soil.

Garden centres will advise on plants to provide food for caterpillars. It goes without saying, don't use pesticides.

We are losing many brownfield sites to developers and some of these sites are havens for butterflies and moths.

Let us compensate a little and give these delicate but beautiful creatures a helping hand by inviting them into our garden patch, however small.

-Gloria Wheatcroft, Hove