Butterfly numbers plunge after wet summer

Wet summers and changes to countryside are behind the dramatic fall, leaving some species threatened with extinction.

The small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is on the brink of extinction.

Britain’s butterflies have suffered their worst year for more than a quarter of a century as a series of wet summers have hit species already struggling with changes to their habitat, a study revealed today.

The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme found 12 species – the highest number ever recorded – have suffered the worst summer on record, since monitoring began in 1976.

Some of the rarest butterflies such as the high brown fritillary is one such species, with fewer than 50 colonies in many parts of the country, many of them small.

Other threatened butterflies include the pearl-bordered fritillary and the wood white, which have less than 100 colonies.

The small tortoiseshell experienced a 45 per cent decline and is becoming scarce in some areas. And the orange tip, easily recognisable in Scottish gardens due to the distinctive colourings on its wings, was down 26 per cent.

Charlotte Rogan, a 2007 Zoology Graduate from the University of Reading said if there is another dire summer this year, butterflies could suffer long-term damage.

“In the summers of 2007 and 2008 especially, we had heavy downpours which prevented butterflies from performing two tasks essential for their survival – flying to reach flowers that supply them with nectar and mating. They require the sun to become fully active,” she said.

“The butterfly population is important because it acts as an indicator of the wider environment. These new figures reflect a degradation of their habitat such as flower-rich meadows, thought to be lost due to climate change, intensive farming and other human impacts.”

Huw Irranca-Davies, the Wildlife Minister, promised to support conservation schemes to boost butterfly numbers.

“Climate change is having a detrimental effect on a number of our butterfly species and in parts of England we’re in danger of losing some species all together,” he said.

“Butterflies need good habitats to thrive and the Government will continue to support schemes to promote the recovery of butterfly numbers.”

The survey, run by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, involved 1,500 volunteers who monitored butterflies in 920 sites across the UK.