BBC News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n More than half of the UK’s butterfly species have populations in long-term decline, a survey has found.<\/p>\n The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme said that 31 of 59 species have had their numbers fall since 1976, when monitoring began. <\/p>\n It also found that 2024 was the fifth-worst year for butterfly numbers across the country, with all but eight species suffering declines on the previous year – though populations can fluctuate year-on-year in response to the weather.<\/p>\n Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, which conducted the study, said the long-term decline was “entirely down to the way we humans manage the landscape”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While many butterfly species showed population declines last year, nine suffered their worst year on record – with the grizzled skipper, cryptic wood white and chalk hill blue seeing sharp drops compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n But 22 species were found to have suffered significant losses since monitoring began.<\/p>\n Among them was the small tortoiseshell butterfly, numbers of which plummeted by 86% in the past 49 years, while the green-veined white butterfly saw a 28% decline.<\/p>\n Common butterflies that live in gardens, parks and the countryside had their second-worst year in 2024. Only six species showed increases in their numbers since 2023.<\/p>\n Dr Fox said the falling butterfly numbers were due to “destruction of wildlife-rich habitats” by humans, as well as the use of pesticides and other pollutants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Butterflies serve as an important indicator of the environment for humans, he added.<\/p>\n “When butterflies are in decline, we know that there are big problems with our environment,” Dr Fox told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.<\/p>\n Butterfly populations fluctuate annually in response to the weather. The study said that 2024’s low numbers were partly due to a wet spring followed by a relatively cool summer.<\/p>\n But Dr Fox noted that climate change meant unusual weather was becoming more frequent.<\/p>\n “When we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can’t bounce back like they once did,” he said.<\/p>\n Dr Fox said the change was reversible and urged people to let their gardens grow wild and their grass long during the summer – as this increased the number and variety of butterflies.<\/p>\n The scheme asked volunteers to count butterflies across 3,552 sites in the UK. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Gilles](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/2278\/live\/7ab9dfa0-0efa-11f0-b65c-119a1680d4e5.jpg.webp\")
Gilles San Martin<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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