Half of Britain’s butterfly species at risk of extinction
Almost half of Britain’s butterfly species are at risk of extinction, according to a new assessment which found that threats have increased because of habitat loss and climate change.
The number of species classed as threatened in the updated “red list” has increased by 26 per cent compared to a previous assessment in 2010.
The swallowtail and Adonis blue are among seven species which have moved from near threatened to threatened under the system of classifying extinction risk established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The large heath and the grayling have moved from vulnerable to endangered. The Scotch argus and dark green fritillary have been added to the red list for the first time and classed as vulnerable and near threatened, respectively.