UK Butterfly Emergency Declared
Big Butterfly Count 2024 results reveal lowest numbers on recordWildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has today declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’, with results of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count showing a marked and hugely concerning decline in numbers.Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute Count, a reduction of almost 50% on last year’s average of 12, and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.It was the worst summer in the Count’s history for Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Scotch Argus. And the majority of species (81%) showed declines in the number seen this year compared with 2023.In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded across the UK from 12 July - 4 August, down almost 600,000, equivalent to more than a third of 2023's total, and 9,000 Counts were logged as seeing zero butterflies, the highest in the citizen science programme’s history.These figures have alarmed scientists and resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide ‘Butterfly Emergency’.Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The previous lowest average number of butterflies per Count was nine in 2022, this latest figure is 22% lower than that, which is very disturbing. Not just that, but a third of the species recorded in the Big Butterfly Count have had their worst year on record, and no species had their best. The results are in line with wider evidence that the summer of 2024 has been very poor for butterflies.“Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Nature is sounding the alarm call. We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations."Butterfly Conservation is writing an open letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs calling for the Government to act now for nature by declaring a ‘Nature Emergency’ and banning butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides once and for all, with no exceptions, before it’s too late.Dr Fox explains: “When used on farmland, these chemicals make their way into the wild plants growing at field edges, resulting in adult butterflies and moths drinking contaminated nectar and caterpillars feeding on contaminated plants. Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, it’s time for the UK to follow suit and put the natural world first. If we don’t act now to finally address the long-term drivers of butterfly decline, we will face extinction events never before seen in our lifetime.”More than 85,000 citizen scientists took part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count this year, submitting 143,241 Counts. This is equivalent to 35,810 hours, or four years worth of time spent counting, in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countrysideDr Richard Fox concluded: “If every single person who helped with the Count this summer signs our letter to the Government, we could prevent the very real and pressing threat of species becoming extinct in our lifetime."To sign Butterfly Conservation’s letter to the Government asking them to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ and ban butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides visit: https://butterfly-conservation.org/emergencyNext year’s Big Butterfly Count will take place from Friday 18th July – Sunday 10th August 2025.BIG BUTTERFLY RESULTS 2024Species results in the UK – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024UKAbundanceAverage per count% change from 202314 year trend (bold significant)1Gatekeeper190,4131.5-18-31.822Meadow Brown177,8441.46-15.413Large White138,4241.1-382.074Small White112,8140.9-46-18.725Peacock50,8470.4-67-30.396Red Admiral47,1090.4-8228.107Ringlet44,2780.385-47.068Speckled Wood30,1120.2-2-37.709Comma24,4980.2-52-20.2810Green-veined White18,9510.1-24-65.0111Six-spot Burnet18,1020.188-12Marbled White17,9220.1101-18.0413Small Copper13,9620.1-3048.0514Small Tortoiseshell12,4320.1-74-59.4415Common Blue9,7550.1-69-51.6716Brimstone8,6220.1-53-17.9917Holly Blue7,0900.1-8035.6318Painted Lady4,1700.03-669.2719Silver Y4,1010.03-30-20Jersey Tiger3,4960.03-29-21Scotch Argus4990.004-61- TOTAL935,4417-40 -Species results in England – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024EnglandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Gatekeeper183,7971.55-172Meadow Brown164,6181.3963Large White126,9881.07-404Small White102,1590.86-475Peacock49,6220.42-666Red Admiral44,8130.38-827Ringlet35,3920.3778Speckled Wood26,7000.22-19Comma23,6870.2-5110Marbled White17,7880.1510011Green-veined White15,4400.13-2612Six-spot Burnet14,6620.129113Small Copper13,2240.11-2814Small Tortoiseshell10,8180.09-7215Brimstone8,4960.07-5316Common Blue8,3070.07-7117Holly Blue6,6230.06-8018Painted Lady3,8300.03-6619Silver Y3,5850.03-3120Jersey Tiger3,4480.03-29 TOTAL863,9977.28-41Species results in Scotland – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024ScotlandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Ringlet4,6890.961232Small White4,1230.84-293Meadow Brown3,7780.77284Large White3,2990.68-115Green-veined White1,8500.38-166Speckled Wood1,0890.22677Common Blue7840.16758Small Tortoiseshell6880.14-799Red Admiral6090.12-7910Six-spot Burnet5590.113411Scotch Argus4810.10-6412Peacock2210.05-9413Small Copper1690.03-4614Silver Y1480.03-1815Holly Blue1320.03-4216Painted Lady1040.02-6217Comma950.02-74 TOTAL22,8184.67-26Species results in Wales – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024WalesAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Meadow Brown8,1131.43-232Large White7,1001.25-283Gatekeeper6,0421.06-384Small White5,4990.97-385Ringlet3,1850.561216Six-spot Burnet2,4880.441787Speckled Wood1,8100.32-268Red Admiral1,2760.22-869Green-veined White1,0310.18-810Peacock9020.16-8211Comma6870.12-7112Small Tortoiseshell6270.11-7813Small Copper4690.08-6514Common Blue3590.06-8215Silver Y2860.05-3916Holly Blue2140.04-8517Painted Lady1660.03-7318Marbled White1320.0213319Brimstone1210.02-3920Jersey Tiger280.00-47 TOTAL40,5357.12-42Species results in Northern Ireland – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024Northern IrelandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Ringlet9820.772252Meadow Brown9290.731003Small White7810.61-534Large White6860.54-415Green-veined White5630.4426Six-spot Burnet3910.31-27Speckled Wood2970.23-308Small Tortoiseshell2640.21-849Common Blue1490.122810Red Admiral550.04-9611Peacock450.04-9712Small Copper440.03-7213Holly Blue370.03-8614Painted Lady350.03-7915Silver Y270.02-25 TOTAL5,2854.16-49