A butterfly conservation charity has raised alarm after recording the lowest number of butterflies in its annual summer count.

The Big Butterfly Count, organised by Butterfly Conservation, encourages volunteers across the UK to spend 15 minutes outdoors counting butterflies to help assess their population health.

This year’s count revealed the lowest numbers in the survey’s 14-year history, with over 9,000 participants reporting no sightings at all. In response, Butterfly Conservation is urging the government to declare an emergency and has written to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to push for a ban on harmful pesticides.

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Pesticides, while designed to aid plant growth, can harm wildlife, including butterflies. DEFRA responded by reaffirming their plans to address the issue, stating they are committed to banning neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten pollinators. Butterfly Conservation welcomed this but expressed concern over the lack of a concrete timeline for action.

The survey, conducted from July 12 to August 4, recorded just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths, around 600,000 fewer than last year. The results prompted scientists to declare a ‘Butterfly Emergency’ due to the sharp decline in sightings.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, highlighted that a third of the species recorded experienced their worst year on record, with none achieving their best.

Butterflies play a crucial role in ecosystems, helping to pollinate flowers, control pests, and provide food for other animals. Their decline signals broader environmental issues, with Dr Fox noting that when butterflies are in trouble, the wider environment is also at risk. The UK is home to 59 butterfly species, five of which have gone extinct over the past 150 years.