Drought could threaten Britain’s butterflies, charity says
The Small Copper has seen an increase of 93 per cent in the past 16 years.
A wildlife conservation charity has warned that Great Britain’s hot, dry summer could threaten butterfly numbers next year.
Butterfly Conservation says that caterpillars have been hit hard by the weather, with many now facing starvation.
Its warning come despite positive results from this year’s Big Butterfly Count. With almost 1.4 million butterflies and moths recorded, the charity says that no species had its worst count.
The Holly Blue and the Gatekeeper both saw their best ever numbers, with the Small Copper having its third best count. The number of Holly Blues has increased by 42 per cent in the past 16 years, while the Small Copper has seen an increase of 93 per cent.
However, there was a clear impact from this summer’s drought, with three sensitive species recording below-average numbers.
The Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, and the Ringlet have recorded declines of 44 per cent, 54 per cent and 39 per cent respectively since 2011.
Despite the generally positive result this summer, Butterfly Conservation remains concerned about the long-term impact of the extreme weather. It fears this will affect butterfly numbers next year and beyond.
This is because many plants that caterpillars depend on withered and died before the caterpillars had finished feeding on them. The impact this will have may not become fully apparent until 2027.
Prof Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said: "Adult butterflies love hot, sunny weather for flying, feeding and breeding, and that's exactly why people saw so many this summer. But a good summer for adult butterflies is not the same as a good summer for butterfly populations.
“What matters far more is what's happening on the ground, to the butterflies’ caterpillar offspring and the plants they depend on. The very same weather that made it a good year for butterflies - lots of sunshine and very little rain - could mean we’re actually on course for a population crash, which could take years to recover from."
Image © Pete Hughes
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