Summer 2019 Gave a Welcome Boost to UK Butterflies

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The latest results from the annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) led by Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), show that 2019 was the best year for UK butterflies in over 20 years.

Butterflies most likely benefited from an unusually warm and wet summer. Just over half of UK species showed higher population levels in 2019 compared with 2018. The Chequered Skipper, Orange tip, Brimstone and Marbled White had their best year on record. The Painted Lady migrant butterflies were also up by a massive 1993% compared to 2018.

Unfortunately there are ongoing declines for some species such as the Adonis Blue (-40%), Purple Hairstreak (-57%) and Heath Fritillary (-34%)*.

* compared to 2018.