Climate change has led to a `lightening up of butterflies and dragonflies in Europe, a study has found.

Warmer temperatures have caused lighter-coloured species to out-compete darker varieties in many regions, the research shows.

Scientists identified a general move northwards, with lighter southern insects displacing those with darker colouring.

The darker species were retreating even further north to the cooler regions.

The study of 366 butterfly species and 107 dragonfly species showed a clear pattern of light-coloured insects taking over in the warmer southern half of Europe, while darker insects dominated the cooler north.

Several Mediterranean dragonfly species had expanded their northern range and moved to Germany, including the Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis), the Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and the Dainty Damselfly (Coenagrion scitulum).

In 2010 the Dainty Damselfly was also sighted in England for the first time in over 50 years, said the scientists. Butterfly species that thrive in warm climates, such as the Southern Small White (Pieris mannii), had dispersed to Germany during the past decade and were continuing their northward shift.

Dark-coloured insects absorb more sunlight to increase their body temperature, while light-coloured insects reflect light to prevent over-heating their bodies.

Professor Carsten Rahbek, from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London, said: “For two of the major groups of insects, we have now demonstrated a direct link between climate and insect colour, which impact their geographical distribution.”

The findings appear in the journal Nature Communications.