Irish butterfly population down 35% since 2008 - report
Reposted from: https://www.rte.ie/
Those in ‘strong decline’ are the Green Veined White (pictured), Large White, Meadow Brown, Orange Tip, Ringlet, Small White and Speckled Wood
Seven species of butterfly are in “strong decline” in Ireland, a biodiversity study has found.
The annual report of the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme recorded that “no species showed positive trends” last year.
The multi-species index, which is derived from tracking changes in the populations of the 15 commonest species, shows that overall butterfly populations have declined by 35% since 2008.
Results from 2021 show that no species of butterfly has increased in population size since 2008.
Those in “strong decline” are the Green Veined White, Large White, Meadow Brown, Orange Tip, Ringlet, Small White and Speckled Wood.
In addtion, Common Blue, Small Copper, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, Wall Brown and Wood White species were deemed to be in “moderate decline”.
The population of the Dark Green Fritillary, Dingy Skipper, Grayling, Holly Blue and Silver Washed Fritillary species are considered “uncertain”.
Brimstone and Peacock species populations were classified as “stable,” between 2008 and 2021.
The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme Annual Report stated in its overview: "In line with 2020’s results, the multi-species index showed that once again, there was a moderate decline in the number of butterflies flying in 2021 when compared to the baseline year of 2008 - the start of the monitoring scheme.
“In terms of the individual species trends, no species shows a positive trend with only two species having ‘stable’ trends - Peacock and Brimstone - and all other species showing either ‘declining‘ or ‘uncertain’ trends when compared to the baseline year of 2008.”
The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, established by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in 2008, is Ireland’s longest-running “citizen science insect monitoring scheme”.
It tracks the population status of Ireland’s widespread butterfly species, based on a network of fixed routes, known as transects, that are established and walked by volunteer recorders.