Half of Britain s butterfly species are at risk of extinction. A new Red List published by UK charity Butterfly Conservation names 24 species as threatened, including eight as endangered.
Since 1976, overall butterfly numbers have declined by around 50 per cent
One of the key issues is meadow destruction, meaning butterflies lose their key food sources and breeding grounds
Butterflies are without a doubt one of the most beautiful insects in the UK, but a worrying new study has found that their numbers are dwindling.
The research reveals that the UK butterfly population has been cut in half over the past 45 years.
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Worryingly, almost one in ten British butterfly species has become extinct due to meadow destruction, meaning the loss of key food sources and breeding grounds for the insects.