Big Butterfly Count results revealed for Scotland

Big Butterfly Count saw some species flourish in Scotland this summer, but numbers are still worryingly low

Results of this year’s Big Butterfly Count revealed

• Small White takes top spot
• Garden favourite the Comma did extremely well in Scotland
• Peacock, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell all buck UK trend and show a welcome increase in numbers
• Worryingly, overall numbers of butterflies remain low

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has released data on the number of butterflies and some day-flying moths recorded in Scotland during this year’s Big Butterfly Count, which ran from 15^th July – 7^th August.

The top five butterfly species encountered in Scotland were Small White, Meadow Brown, Large White, Ringlet and Peacock.

Another winner for the 2022 Count was the Comma, which saw an increase of 187% in Scotland compared with last year. This species has a flexible lifecycle which enables it to capitalise on favourable weather conditions, which could account for its particular success this year. The Comma only recolonised Scotland in the early 2000s (having been absent for about130 years) but has expanded its range rapidly since then.

Peacock, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell also all seem to have fared well in Scotland this summer and bucked the UK trend of decline. This is welcome news as all three species showed declines in Scotland last year.

However, overall, the trend for butterflies across Scotland remains a concerning one, with the results of the Big Butterfly Count 2022 showing an average of just under seven butterflies seen per Count. While this is a slight increase on last year, it still remains low compared with many previous years in the 13-year history of the citizen science project.

Neither of the two species of blue butterfly included in the Big Butterfly Count, the Holly Blue and the Common Blue, did well in Scotland this year, despite significant increases in other parts of the UK, with a decline of 35% for the Holly Blue and 13% for Common Blue.

The Scotch Argus was added to the species list for the Big Butterfly Count in Scotland for the first time last year. Unfortunately it wasn’t good news for the species, which declined 38% on 2021 levels.

Head of Science for Butterfly Conservation, Dr Richard Fox, said: “We might have expected this summer to have been a much better one for butterflies given the good weather experienced in many parts of Scotland.

“The fact that more butterflies weren’t seen is concerning and it’s clear that much more needs to be done to protect and restore habitats to aid nature recovery. The sun could shine for days on end, but we still won’t see more butterflies unless there is habitat for them to thrive in.”

A total of 3,633 Butterfly Counts were carried out in Scotland during the event while, across the UK as a whole, participants spent a combined total of over two and a half years counting butterflies in their gardens, local parks and in the countryside.

Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The vast majority of Big Butterfly Counts are done in gardens, which makes this data especially valuable because this type of habitat is under-represented in many of our other schemes.

“We can create habitat for butterflies such as the Holly Blue and Comma in our gardens, by cultivating Holly and flowering Ivy for the former and growing Hop, elms and nettles for the latter. Gardens that are wildlife friendly can provide vital habitat for these insects, allowing them space to feed, breed and shelter.”

The Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen-science project of its kind and relies on volunteers spending 15 minutes outside each summer, counting the number and type of butterflies they see. Taking part each year helps scientists to gather important data on how butterflies and moths are coping with changing climate, changing weather, and habitat loss. Next year’s Big Butterfly Count will take place from Friday 14^th July – Sunday 6^th August 2023.

To find out more visit www.butterfly-conservation.org

THE BUTTERFLY WINNERS AND LOSERS OF SUMMER 2022

Species results in SCOTLAND – Big Butterfly Count 2022

	Big Butterfly Count 2022Scotland	Abundance	Ave per count	% change from 2021
1	Small White	3,559	1.10	1%
2	Meadow Brown	3,303	1.02	15%
3	Large White	2,750	0.85	-4%
4	Ringlet	2,674	0.83	-10%
5	Peacock	1,372	0.42	243%
6	Small Tortoiseshell	1,360	0.42	17%
7	Green-veined White	1,266	0.39	-8%
8	Red Admiral	1,120	0.35	135%
9	Scotch Argus	996	0.31	-38%
10	Speckled Wood	846	0.26	29%
11	Common Blue	514	0.16	-13%
12	Six-spot Burnet	412	0.13	9%
13	Small Copper	227	0.07	-11%
14	Silver Y	192	0.06	144%
15	Comma	172	0.05	187%
16	Painted Lady	141	0.04	-18%
17	Holly Blue	69	0.02	-35%
	TOTAL	20,973	6.48	7

This year, the Big Butterfly Count was sponsored by garden wildlife specialist Vivara and the DFN Foundation, a commissioning charity focused on influencing sustainable change in special needs education, supported employment, healthcare and conservation.