Butterfly Count: A Silent Summer

A Silent Summer: Britain Confronts a Butterfly Emergency

An urgent call is resounding across Britain, a plea for public assistance in understanding a catastrophic collapse in butterfly populations. The 2024 summer period, once anticipated with hope, has instead been marked by a silent and alarming scarcity of these delicate insects. The world’s most extensive insect census, the Big Butterfly Count, has revealed a grim reality, prompting wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation to declare a national 'Butterfly Emergency'. The dramatic decline in butterfly numbers serves as a stark indicator of the wider health of our environment, a canary in the coal mine for the UK's ecosystems.

The Big Butterfly Count Sounds the Alarm

The citizen science project, known as the Big Butterfly Count, has returned its most distressing results in its 14-year history. Volunteers for this initiative dedicate a quarter of an hour to spotting and tallying butterflies and day-active moths in a nearby park or garden. The data gathered provides a vital snapshot of the health of butterfly populations across the country. The results for 2024 are nothing short of a wake-up call. The average number of butterflies spotted per count plummeted to just seven, a staggering 50% reduction from the previous year's average of 12. This is the lowest figure ever recorded by the survey, a stark testament to the severity of the decline.

A Nation in Butterfly Decline

The extent of the problem is vast, with 81% of species showing a decline in numbers compared to 2023. In total, just over 935,000 sightings of butterflies and day-active moths were logged across the UK between 12 July and 4 August. This figure is down by almost 600,000 from the previous year. Perhaps most tellingly, a record 9,000 counts logged zero butterflies, a poignant symbol of their absence from our gardens, parks, and countryside. The figures have left scientists and conservationists deeply concerned, prompting the declaration of a nationwide 'Butterfly Emergency'.

The Worst Summer on Record

The 2024 summer season marked a historic low for the Big Butterfly Count for a number of species. The Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Scotch Argus all experienced their lowest numbers on record. These are not just rare species, but also include some of our most familiar and once-common butterflies. These findings are corroborated by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), which is considered the benchmark for scientific butterfly data. Having gathered information since 1976, the UKBMS also confirmed that 2024 was a particularly poor year for UK butterflies, placing it 45th in its 49-year history.

Image Credit - Freepik

A Crisis for Common Species

The decline is not limited to rare or specialist butterflies. The UKBMS data reveals that common butterflies, the species that inhabit our gardens, parks, and the wider countryside, had their second-worst year since 1976. This is a deeply worrying trend, as it suggests that the environmental pressures affecting butterflies are widespread and not confined to specific habitats. The Small Tortoiseshell, a once-common sight and brightly coloured visitor to gardens across the country, has seen its numbers plummet by a staggering 86% since 1976. For the first time since monitoring began, a majority of all butterfly species in the UK are now in long-term decline.

A Shifting Baseline of Expectation

A warning about 'shifting baseline syndrome' comes from Dr. Richard Fox at Butterfly Conservation. This is the phenomenon where people become accustomed to lower numbers of wildlife, and so they might view a season with only fair or typical butterfly numbers as being plentiful. The memory of summers past, filled with fluttering wings, is fading. The risk is that we forget what a healthy butterfly population looks like, and accept a depleted and impoverished natural world as the new normal. The current situation, however, is a stark reminder that the decline is not normal, and that urgent action is needed.

The Human Hand in Butterfly Decline

According to Dr. Richard Fox, the collapse of these cherished British insects is a direct result of human behaviour. He explains that he is devastated by this decline and regrets that it has been caused by our actions. He points to the destruction of habitats, environmental pollution, large-scale pesticide application, and a changing climate as the combined pressures that have created a perfect storm for butterflies, leaving their populations vulnerable and unable to bounce back from poor weather conditions.

The Double-Edged Sword of Climate Change

Climate change is a significant driver of butterfly decline, but its effects are not always straightforward. Warmer temperatures can, in some cases, benefit certain species. The Comma, for example, once confined to the south-west, has expanded its range northwards and is now breeding in Scotland. Some species are also emerging earlier in the spring, which can allow for additional broods and population growth. However, these potential benefits are far outweighed by the negatives. The increase in extreme weather events, such as drought, can be devastating to both butterflies and the vegetation their caterpillars feed on.

Image Credit - Freepik

The Peril of a Warming World

Many butterfly species are highly sensitive to temperature changes. The Mountain Ringlet, for instance, has suffered local extinctions in areas that have become too hot and dry. As temperatures rise, many species are forced to move northwards to find suitable habitats. However, their ability to do so is hampered by the fragmented nature of our landscapes. Patches of suitable habitat are often small and isolated, making it difficult for butterflies to colonise new areas. It is predicted that a 4°C rise in temperature could lead to a quarter of Europe's butterfly species losing 95% of their current range.

The Threat of Toxic Pesticides

Butterfly Conservation is calling on the government to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, a group of chemicals that are highly toxic to insects. These pesticides are used in agriculture and can contaminate wild plants at field edges. Butterflies and moths then ingest the toxins when they feed on the nectar of these plants, and their caterpillars are poisoned as they feed on the leaves. Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, and conservationists are urging the UK to follow suit. The charity has launched an open letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling for a ban on these harmful pesticides.

A Call for a 'Nature Emergency'

In addition to a ban on neonicotinoids, Butterfly Conservation is also calling on the government to declare a 'Nature Emergency'. This would be a recognition of the severity of the biodiversity crisis facing the UK and a commitment to taking urgent action to address it. Dr. Richard Fox has stated that if every person who participated in the country's Big Butterfly Count signed the letter to the government, it could help prevent the extinction of species within our lifetime. The declaration of a 'Nature Emergency' would send a clear signal that the health of our natural world is a national priority.

The Fragile Web of Life

Butterflies are not just beautiful creatures; they are also a vital part of our ecosystems. They are important pollinators for a wide range of plants, and they are a food source for birds, bats, and other insectivorous animals. Their decline is a sign that our environment is in trouble. As an indicator species, the health of butterfly populations reflects the health of the wider ecosystem. The current butterfly emergency is therefore a warning that we cannot afford to ignore.

Hope in a Time of Crisis

While the situation is dire, there is still hope. The huge public response to the country's Big Butterfly Count indicates that people care about the fate of our butterflies and are willing to take action to help. Over 85,000 citizen scientists participated in the 2024 survey, submitting over 143,000 counts. This outpouring of public support provides a strong mandate for conservation charities to press for political action. The data collected by these volunteers is also invaluable for scientists, helping them to grasp the extent of the issue and to target conservation efforts where they are most needed.

Image Credit - Freepik

What Can We Do to Help?

There are many things that individuals can do to help our beleaguered butterflies. Planting nectar-rich flowers in our gardens can provide a vital food source for adult butterflies. Leaving a patch of grass to grow long can create a cooler, shadier microclimate that can help butterflies to regulate their body temperature. Avoiding the use of pesticides in our gardens is also crucial. By creating butterfly-friendly spaces in our own backyards, we can help to create a network of habitats that can support butterfly populations.

A Garden of Sanctuary

Creating a butterfly-friendly garden does not demand extensive space or effort. A few well-chosen plants in a window box or a pot can make a difference. Buddleia, lavender, and verbena are all excellent sources of nectar for butterflies. It is also important to provide food for caterpillars. Nettles, for example, are the food plant for the caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies. By allowing a small patch of nettles to grow in a sunny corner of the garden, we can help the next cycle of these beautiful insects to thrive.

The Power of Citizen Science

Participating in the Big Butterfly Count offers a straightforward yet effective method to contribute to butterfly conservation. The count takes place for three weeks every summer, and all you need is 15 minutes and a place to watch for butterflies. The data you collect will help scientists to monitor the health of butterfly populations and to identify the species that are most in need of our help. The subsequent Big Butterfly Count is scheduled to run from Friday 18th July to Sunday 10th August 2025.

A Future for Butterflies

The future of our butterflies hangs in the balance. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether we can reverse the current trend of decline. It will require a concerted effort from government, conservation organisations, and the public. We need to create a landscape that is more friendly to wildlife, with more and better-connected habitats. We need to reduce our reliance on harmful pesticides. And we need to tackle the overarching threat of climate change.

A World Without Butterflies?

The prospect of a world without butterflies is a bleak one. These vibrant and delicate creatures bring joy to our lives and are a vital part of our natural heritage. Their loss would be a tragedy, not just for the butterflies themselves, but for all of us. The current butterfly emergency is a wake-up call, a challenge to us all to do more to safeguard our invaluable natural environment. Let us hope that it is a challenge that we can rise to.