None of these three species is generally able to survive the British winter in any stage of their cycle, although recent evidence in the mild south-west of Britain has proved that very occasionally one or two Red Admirals and Painted Ladies manage to over-winter as adults, and Clouded Yellows as caterpillars. These species migrate to Britain every year from southern Europe and north Africa, with some years being much more plentiful than others, depending on the prevailing winds. A particularly good year for migrants was 1996, when the largest number of Red Admirals and Painted Ladies, and the only Clouded Yellow, were seen in our survey. Indeed, the invasion of Painted Ladies that year is not done justice by the recorded numbers.