Fluttered Away?

UK's Butterfly Conservation have been running their Big Butterfly Count for the last 12 years. This year, a record 150,000 people spent 15 minutes in a fixed location, counting butterflies and day-flying moths (like the Cinnabar and the Silver 'Y'). The count this year, has now been revealed as the lowest, since the exercise was started (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/07/number-of-butterflies-in-the-uk-at-a-record-low-survey-finds). 'Common' butterflies like the Comma; Common blue; Peacock; Small tortoiseshell and Speckled wood, all showed declines (respectively of 32; 59; 63; 32; and 41%). Weather conditions will not have helped. It is striking that since 1976, 76% of UK butterflies have shown reduced abundance and/or a less widespread distribution. The finding of the Big Butterfly Count is, however, worrying as these highly visible insects are significant indicators of environmental health. Insects are important pollinators as well as being a valuable food resource for many other species. Less obvious species of insects are also likely to be in unrecorded decline.