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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Patrick Barkham

More than half of Britain’s butterfly species in decline, monitoring scheme shows

A butterfly on a bluebell.
The number of pearl-bordered fritillaries has declined by 70%, according to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Photograph: Bob Eade/PA

“Insectageddon” has not occurred, but there has been a loss of butterfly diversity over the past half a century, according to the world’s largest insect monitoring scheme.

More than 44m butterfly sightings scientifically collected in Britain since 1976 show that of the 58 native species recorded, 33 species have declined and 25 have increased in number.

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