2023 was a mixed picture for butterflies, with some species soaring while others continued worrying declines, a new survey has revealed.
Data from the annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), led by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, British Trust for Ornithology and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, was released today.
Half the 58 species had a better than average year while the other half were below average at monitored sites.
In Scotland, the Chequered Skipper (pictured, by Andrew Cooper), Speckled Wood, Large Heath, Red Admiral and Comma all had their best year since the UKBMS began in 1976, while there was a significant fall in sightings of the Green-veined White, perhaps suffering ongoing effects from the drought the previous summer.
Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “Butterfly numbers fluctuate naturally from year to year, largely due to the weather, but the long-term trends of UK butterflies are mainly driven by human activity, including habitat damage and destruction, pesticide use, pollution and climate change.
“By monitoring long-term butterfly trends we can learn about the impact of climate change and other factors on our native wildlife.”
The UKBMS, which began in 1976, is one of the world’s longest-running insect monitoring schemes.
Dr James Heywood, Breeding Bird Survey National Organiser at the British Trust for Ornithology, whose volunteers contribute to the UKBMS, added: “In 2023, thousands of skilled volunteers monitored a record-breaking 3,316 sites across the UK, gathering valuable data that will help to inform conservation decisions for the future.
“We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of those people who carry out the monitoring and help us to maintain this highly valuable study.”
The full results are available here: Country-level Summary Tables 2023
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