In any competition, there are winners and losers. In the race to adjust to a changing climate, some butterflies seem to be doing well. But others, less so.
The brown hairstreak has been reported to be doing well around London and the UK population has been stable since the 1980s. Meanwhile, the comma butterfly boasts a 94% range expansion since the 1970s, and is now a familiar sight across England, Scotland and southern Wales.
This uplifting news is masking the plight of the UK’s other 57 breeding butterfly species. Butterfly Conservation’s 2022 report painted a grim picture. Since the 1980s, 80% of butterfly species have decreased in abundance, distribution or both.
Growing up there were heaps of Monarch Butterflies every summer. Now, I don’t even remember the last time I saw one. Same with fireflies. (Not the UK, but goes to show the environmental challenges being seen everywhere.)
Monarch butterflies were what I thought of when I thought “butterfly”. Even when I was a kid, I noticed them becoming less frequent.
Same with me. Anytime I hear or read butterfly I always picture the Monarch. It was always the one we had in a terrarium in primary school to watch the stages of development–which looking back was pretty as a kid. Hell, as an adult metamorphosis is still pretty amazing.