A national “butterfly emergency” has been declared by Butterfly Conservation after the lowest Big Butterfly Count since records began.
An average of just seven butterflies per 15-minute count were recorded by participants in this summer’s butterfly count, the lowest in the survey’s 14-year history.
It was the worst year on record for once-ubiquitous species, including the common blue, small tortoiseshell, small white and green-veined white. Eight out of the 10 most-seen species have declined – in many cases dramatically – over the count’s history. Previous lowest-ever numbers of butterflies-per-count were logged in 2022, 2021 and 2020.
At least we have plastic
We could make plastic butterflies to replace them.
If we get to make the decisions, we can even have branded butterflies!
Who wouldn’t want the Iron Man™ Ripwing?*
*(Stylized form of “Rippon Birdwing”)