Half of UK butterfly species in long-term decline

Half of UK butterfly species in long-term decline

Newly released data has shown that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies in the UK and, for the first time on record, more than half of butterfly species in the UK are now in long-term decline. Nine species had their worst year since counting began, including the much-loved Small Tortoiseshell, Chalk Hill Blue and Small Copper. Worryingly, last year was also the second-worst year on record for 'wider countryside species' - th…

New warnings of a ‘Butterfly Effect’ — in reverse - Scientific Inquirer

A Yale-led study warns that global climate change may have a devastating effect on butterflies, turning their species-rich, mountain habitats from refuges into traps. Think of it as the “butterfly effect” — the idea that something as small as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can eventually lead to a major event such as a hurricane — in reverse. The new study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, also suggests that a lack of …

Butterflies Are Disappearing at a 'Catastrophic' Rate—While Pests Populations Are Predicted to Surge

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Call it a tale of two insects: we’re learning more about how some of nature’s smallest beings are adapting to changes in their environment and how some are not. We’re keeping you updated every week on the latest news in the home improvement world, recommended reads, deals and sales worth your while, and more. In this installment of ou…

The Disturbing Surge in Butterfly Decline in the United Kingdom

Green campaigns from Kent to the Wild Landes of Scotland, butterflies have been part of the British natural decor for centuries. But behind this familiar image hides a much more fragile reality. In the space of a few decades, the populations of butterflies in the United Kingdom have collapsed, victims of a slow but constant decline that even the most common species no longer manage to avoid. While the statements “accumulate and the figures worse…

From the green countryside of Kent to the wild moors of Scotland, butterflies have been part of the British natural landscape for centuries. But behind this familiar image lies a much more fragile reality. In the space of a few decades, the populations of butterflies in the United Kingdom have collapsed, victims of a slow but constant decline that even the most common species can no longer avoid. As the surveys accumulate and the figures worsen,…