2025 figures released by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in their ‘Butterfly Monitoring Newsletter 2026’ reveal serious declines in some of our 35 butterfly species. Since the NBDC’s Butterfly Monitoring Scheme began, 18 years ago, only one species, the Red Admiral, is showing an increase!
Populations of once common species such as the Orange-Tip and Small Tortoiseshell have been decreasing, while the Green-veined White has seen a massive decline of 84%!
The Highs and Lows of Butterfly Fortunes
The multi-species index is derived from the amalgamation of the population trends of 15 common species of butterflies from 2008 to 2025. Some 14 species showed a moderate or strong decline from 2008 to 2025.
Anecdotally there are lots of butterflies on the wing this year. So it will be interesting to see the results of this year’s recording effort when the numbers are crunched in 2027.
The Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is Ireland’s longest running Citizen Science Scheme and relies wholly on the commitment of volunteers who walk a fixed route during the summer months, counting butterflies.
To read the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme newsletter and find out how you can contribute to monitoring Ireland’s butterflies in 2027, see https://biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/butterfly-monitoring-scheme/
To find out how you can help Irish butterflies, see https://biodiversityireland.ie/app/uploads/2023/06/Rewilding-Your-Garden-WEB.pdf
To get involved sign up to our mailing list: NBDC Newsletter
