Butterfly populations 'could crash' due to weather
More than 77,000 butterflies were recorded in Devon while 47,000 were spotted in Cornwall this July.
Butterfly populations in Devon and Cornwall experienced a strong summer, with nearly 5,000 volunteers participating in the 2026 Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count. Nearly 77,151 insects were recorded in Devon and 47,712 in Cornwall during the three-week survey. Head of science Professor Richard Fox warned that prolonged hot and dry weather could lead to a decline in butterfly numbers.
He cited the severe impacts of extreme droughts in 1976 and 1995, which had long-lasting effects on some species. A favorable spring for caterpillars and the hot, sunny summer likely contributed to the high counts, but the conservation group fears the full impact may not be known until next year. Many UK butterfly populations have already declined by 80% since the 1970s, and Fox cautioned that ongoing climate change, frequent droughts, and degraded habitats could push some species towards extinction.
The Gatekeeper was the most commonly spotted butterfly in Devon and Cornwall, followed by the Meadow Brown and Red Admiral. In Cornwall, the Red Admiral was second most common, followed by the Painted Lady, which also had a strong year nationally. Butterfly Conservation urged people to help wildlife by planting trees and shrubs, installing water butts, and leaving grass areas uncut.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
