A WILDLIFE charity has declared a national emergency over declining butterfly populations, calling for better conservation efforts.
Butterfly Conservation has announced that 2024 has seen the lowest numbers of butterfly population in it 14-year history.
It follows the conclusion of the Big Butterfly Count, which sees participants logging numbers and types spotted across the country.
Counting in short 15-minute bursts, those taking part spotted seven butterflies per 15 minutes, a reduction of nearly 50% on last year’s average of 12.
More than 80% of butterfly species have seen a reduction in recorded numbers compared to last year, including the worst summer in the history of the count for Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, and Scotch Argus species.
Overall, fewer than 1 million were spotted by participants– 935,000– a decline of almost 600,000 since last year.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The previous lowest average number of butterflies per Count was nine in 2022, this latest figure is 22% lower than that, which is very disturbing.
“A third of the species recorded in the Big Butterfly Count have had their worst year on record, and no species had their best.
“The results are in line with wider evidence that the summer of 2024 has been very poor for butterflies.”
He explained: “Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble we know that the wider environment is in trouble too.
“Nature is sounding the alarm call– we must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations.”
