Wed Sep 18 01:17:59 UTC 2024: ## Butterfly Emergency Declared as UK Count Hits Record Low

**London, UK** – A wildlife charity has declared a national “butterfly emergency” after its annual Big Butterfly Count recorded its lowest ever numbers. The count, which has been running for 14 years, saw participants spot an average of just seven butterflies per count, a stark decline from last year’s average of 12.

The Butterfly Conservation charity attributes this disastrous decline partly to the wet spring weather and late summer heat, but emphasizes that the long-term trend is deeply concerning. The charity’s head of science, Dr Richard Fox, describes butterflies as being “at their lowest ebb” after 50 years of decline. He highlights that butterflies are a key indicator species, and their struggles signal a wider environmental crisis.

The charity is calling on the government to ban pesticides that harm butterflies and bees “before it’s too late.” While neonicotinoid pesticides were banned in the UK in 2018, they have been approved four times in a row for emergency use to combat a virus affecting sugar beet. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has stated their commitment to protecting pollinators and banning harmful neonicotinoids, but has not provided a timeline for this action.

The Nature Friendly Farming Network, representing farmers working to improve nature, is urging support for farmers and consumers who want to move away from pesticide use. They advocate for nature-friendly alternatives like creating habitats for pollinators and predatory insects.

Wider data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, one of the longest running insect monitoring schemes in the world, reveals a long-term decline in butterfly numbers driven by climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and pesticides. Dr Marc Botham of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology highlights the lack of quality habitat as a major contributing factor and emphasizes the need for increasing both the quantity and quality of habitat to support butterflies and other wildlife.

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