Butterflies ‘failing to cope with climate change’ as numbers fall
BUTTERFLIES SUFFERED one of their worst years on record as conservationists warned that the treasured insects are failing to cope with climate change.
Some 40 of the 57 species assessed in the annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme saw declines in 2016 compared with 2015, making it the fourth worst year on record.
A mild winter and a cold spring – both of which can be bad for butterflies – contributed to the conditions which saw both rare and widespread species struggle despite a warm and dry summer across much of the country.
The monitoring by Butterfly Conservation, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the British Trust for Ornithology revealed new lows for a number of species.
The Butterfly Conservation’s head of monitoring, Professor Tom Brereton, said: “The results show that butterflies are failing to cope with our changing climate and how we manage the environment. As butterflies are regarded as good indicators of environmental health, this is hugely concerning for both wildlife and people.”
The threatened heath fritillary had its worst year on record for a second year running, with a slump of more than a quarter on 2015. And grizzled skippers, another rare species found in southern England and Wales, saw numbers fall 24 per cent to new lows. Wall, grayling, white-letter hairstreak and white admiral butterflies all also recorded their worst years in the survey, which started in 1976.
Research suggests milder winters are harming butterflies, potentially leading to increased disease and disruption of their behaviour. And cold springs can reduce or delay the emergence of butterflies.
This is hugely concerning for both wildlife and people. The Butterfly Conservation’s head of monitoring, Professor Tom Brereton