Wildlife charity declares 'butterfly emergency' as numbers hit record low

A wildlife charity has declared a national “butterfly emergency” after its annual Big Butterfly Count recorded its lowest ever numbers.

The count, which has been running for 14 years, showed particularly poor results this year, attributed partly to wet weather, but the long-term trend raises significant concerns, according to Butterfly Conservation.

The charity is urging the government to ban pesticides harmful to butterflies and bees “before it’s too late.”

Dr. Richard Fox, the charity’s head of science, noted that butterflies are at “their lowest ebb” after 50 years of decline.

He emphasized their role as key indicator species: “When they are in trouble, we know that the wider environment is in trouble too.”

Although neonicotinoid pesticides were banned in the UK in 2018, they have been approved in emergencies to combat a virus affecting sugar beet.

A spokesperson from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs stated that the government is committed to protecting nature and will consider banning these harmful pesticides, but no timeline has been provided.

The Nature Friendly Farming Network, representing farmers seeking to improve biodiversity, emphasized the need for a shift away from pesticides and towards nature-friendly alternatives, such as creating habitats for pollinators.

CEO Martin Lines remarked that changing farm management practices is essential to halt biodiversity loss.

Conversely, the National Farmers Union (NFU) pointed out that factors like weather extremes and record temperatures have also contributed to the decline in butterfly populations. NFU environment forum chair Richard Bramley argued that linking neonicotinoids to this decline is misleading, citing a lack of clear scientific evidence.

The 2024 Big Butterfly Count took place in July and August across the UK, with thousands of participants recording the number of butterflies seen within 15 minutes.

On average, only seven butterflies were spotted per count, the lowest in the 14-year history of the scheme, down from 12 last year. This year marked the worst results for several species, including the common blue and small tortoiseshell.

Butterfly Conservation attributes this year’s decline to a wet spring followed by a late arrival of summer heat. Data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, one of the longest-running insect monitoring programs globally, indicates that climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and pesticides are driving the long-term decline.

Dr. Marc Botham from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology reported that 33% of monitored species have significantly declined over the past 48 years, stating, “There’s not enough habitat and what is there isn’t good quality.”

He stressed the importance of improving habitat quantity and quality for butterflies and other wildlife.