Number of butterflies in Scotland hits all-time low

THE number of butterflies in Scotland hit an all-time low. Butterfly Conservation said the number of individual butterflies recorded was down 11% on the previous year and it warned of long-term decline in some species after the last four years have seen successive population falls. There are 59 species of butterfly, after four became extinct during the last century. The common blue butterfly was the worst affected this year, with its numbers tumbling by 61% in the UK-wide count, although it remains the seventh most common species in Scotland. The small tortoiseshell, which has declined in numbers in the rest of the UK, was the most common butterfly spotted north of the Border and three times as many of the species were recorded per count in Scotland than in England. The red admiral, ringlet and meadow brown are also faring relatively well north of the Border.

Source: Herald Scotland, 16 September 2011
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/number-of-butterflies-in-s…