Butterfly numbers are dropping but here are five species you may see more of
Five Butterfly Species Thriving Amidst Overall Decline
The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), a long-running citizen science project, reveals that while many British butterflies are in steep decline, some species are benefiting from warmer, sunnier conditions linked to climate change. Over the past 50 years, 44 million records have been gathered from 782,000 volunteer surveys, highlighting a complex trend in butterfly populations.
Adaptable Species See Growth
Among the 59 native species tracked, 25 have shown improvement, while 33 are in decline. The Large Blue, once extinct in 1979, has rebounded due to targeted conservation. The Orange tip butterfly, known for its vivid coloration, has increased by over 40% since 1976. Meanwhile, the Red admiral is now overwintering in the UK, a shift enabled by rising temperatures. Comma butterflies, with their unique wing patterns, have also recovered, and the Black hairstreak, a rare UK species, is gradually stabilizing.
Specialists Struggle with Habitat Loss
However, species dependent on specific habitats face greater challenges. Woodland clearings and chalk grasslands, crucial for some butterflies, are shrinking due to land-use changes. As a result, these specialists are declining at alarming rates. The white-letter hairstreak, whose caterpillars glow under UV light, has dropped by 80% since the survey began. The pearl-bordered fritillary, which relies on violets, has also fallen by 70%.
“Butterflies are cold-blooded, so they respond directly to temperature shifts,” explains Prof Jane Hill of the University of York. “Their ability to expand northward into Scotland and northern England is a clear sign of climate influence.” She emphasizes that the UKBMS data, spanning half a century, sets a global benchmark for wildlife tracking.
Conservation Efforts and Public Involvement
Volunteers have played a vital role in the scheme, logging over 932,000 miles across 7,600 sites. Steve Wilkinson of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee highlights the importance of this data: “Without this evidence timeline, we would be flying blind.” He adds that the continuity of volunteer efforts ensures accurate insights into conservation impact.
Butterfly Conservation’s Magdalen Hill Downs reserve exemplifies habitat preservation strategies. By maintaining diverse ecosystems, the charity aims to support species reliant on precise food sources, such as the Duke of Burgundy, which feeds solely on primroses and cowslips, or the purple emperor, dependent on goat and grey willow. Despite progress, the loss of traditional landscapes has reduced biodiversity, according to Prof Richard Fox: “We’ve lost variety and diversity in butterfly communities, much like family-run shops on high streets.”
