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The alarming findings of a new report on butterfly numbers in the UK have led conservationists to warn that several of Britain’s species are currently facing extinction. Data from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology showed that affected species of butterfly have not only dropped off in numbers, but also cover a much smaller range of habitats.

According to the report, which was compiled over 10 years by the CEH and Butterfly Conservation, almost three-quarters of UK butterfly species have decreased in population during the last decade. Over the course of the research, 72 per cent of species declined in abundance and distributions of 54 per cent of butterflies fell.

The findings, which come just one week after the RSPB and Defra announced that farmland bird populations had fluctuated wildly, with an overall decrease, over the past 40 years, have raised questions about what more the UK could be doing to prevent biodiversity loss.

One of the species hit hardest was the High Brown Fritillary; the population of High Fritillaries was shown to have dropped by 69 per cent and its distribution fell by plummeted by 49 Per cent. The Small Tortoiseshell has also experienced an unprecedented decrease.

Butterfly Conservation blamed intensive farming practices, along with increased development and the deterioration of suitable habitats for the losses. CEH said decreasing habitats is believed to be the main cause behind the declines.

The two organisations also said recent changes to weather patterns may be having an effect on the creatures; colder, wetter summers can make it difficult for butterflies to fly, feed and breed and can promote predators and diseases.

Butterfly Conservation spokesperson Richard Fox said, “Butterflies are the canaries in the coalmine of our environment and this assessment shows they are in a poor state in 21st century Britain. Despite grand promises by politicians, rare and common species of butterfly continue to decline in our countryside and towns as a result of farming, forestry and building practices that are hostile to our native wildlife.

“However, we know what to do to reverse the long-term declines of many threatened butterflies and, over the last decade, we’ve proved it can be done on countless local sites across the UK. What we now need to do is roll out these successful approaches on a bigger scale.

“It is vital that the Government’s new approach to ecosystem conservation retains a  sharp focus on threatened  species – without this, many  butterflies and other iconic wildlife will continue to decline towards extinction.”

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