Climate change fears as butterflies and moths continue downward spiral
Populations of butterflies and moths have continued to drop in Scotland and across the UK, with the latest surveys showing overall numbers at the lowest levels since counts began 12 years ago.
Results from the 2021 Big Butterfly Count, a nationwide initiative run by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, paint a worryingpictureforbutterflies and day-flying moths.
A total of 27,997 of the insects were recorded in Scotland, part of 1,238,405 counted across the UK.
The average number seen in Scotland this summer was down by 7 per cent from last year, a smaller decline than the Uk-wide drop of 14 per cent.
Some of the country’s bestloved species, including Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock, were among those demonstrating declines in Scotland.
This was a scenario echoed across the UK, with the iconic Peacock butterfly suffering its lowest numbers since 2012.
And the Small Tortoiseshell, once a frequent visitor to gardens in the UK, had its thirdworst season in the history of the Big Butterfly Count and shows a significant long-term decline in Britain.
There was better news for other species, which have increased since the same time 12 months ago.
The Ringlet, for instance, saw numbers jump by 53 per cent, while the Meadow Brown and Large White rose by 38 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.
However, scientists at Butterfly Conservation have urged caution over the increases, which are likely a result of untypically low numbers seen last year.
Meanwhile, the delicately coloured Holly Blue – a recent arrivalinscotland–hasenjoyed a massive 230 per cent increase in abundance north of the border in the past year, bucking the Uk-wide fall of 58 per cent.
The Scotch Argus was included in the target species list for the Big Butterfly Count this year, with nearly all sightings in Scotland – half of them in the Highlands.
This year’s Big Butterfly Count, which took place from July 16 to August 8, saw more surveys carried out in Scotland than ever before.
A total of 5,420 surveys were submitted by 4,005 people across the country, up by 35 per cent and 14 per cent respectively on 2020 figures.
But the charity has warned that urgent action must be taken to reverse declines.