Butterflies and moths are incredible creatures that instantly trigger memories of sunshine, flowers and long summer days. However, this might not always be the case. Sadly, four butterflies and over 60 moths became extinct during the last century, and 75% of British butterfly species are in decline. The main cause is the continued deterioration, fragmentation and loss of habitats in combination with changes in weather patterns, particularly in the summer.
Butterflies can also tell us a lot about what’s going on in an area. They are very sensitive to environmental change and react quickly due to their short life cycles. Butterflies are therefore valuable 'indicator species' and by monitoring them we can gain a better understanding of how our native wildlife is likely to respond to environmental factors such as climate change (e.g. hotter, drier summers and wetter winters) and increased urban development. If butterflies are in trouble, there is a good chance that a wide range of other insect species will be struggling too, and this will have knock-on effects further up the food chain. We need to halt the decline in butterflies and moths and do what we can to restore their populations before it is too late.
For this to happen we need to start managing the wider countryside in a more butterfly-friendly way, but helping butterflies in your garden can make a big difference too. Encourage butterflies and moths into your garden and get a double bonus: colourful butterflies and moths and a beautiful garden.