A wildlife charity has declared a national "butterfly emergency."

Butterfly Conservation says the results of this summer's Big Butterfly Count show a "marked and hugely concerning decline" in numbers.

Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute count, a reduction of almost 50 per cent on last year’s average of 12, and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.

It was the worst summer in the count’s history for the common blue, holly blue, green-veined white, small white, small tortoiseshell, painted lady, and Scotch Argus.

The majority of species (81 per cent) showed declines in the number seen this year compared with 2023.

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Several types of butterfly had their worst summer (Image: Matt Berry, Peter Eeles, Andrew Cooper and Martin Warren) In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded across the UK from July 12 to August 4, down almost 600,000, equivalent to more than a third of 2023's total, and 9,000 counts were logged as seeing zero butterflies, the highest in the citizen science programme’s history.

These figures have alarmed scientists and resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide 'butterfly emergency'.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said: "The previous lowest average number of butterflies per count was nine in 2022, this latest figure is 22 per cent lower than that, which is very disturbing.

"Not just that, but a third of the species recorded in the Big Butterfly Count have had their worst year on record, and no species had their best.

"The results are in line with wider evidence that the summer of 2024 has been very poor for butterflies.

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"Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble we know that the wider environment is in trouble too.

"Nature is sounding the alarm call.

"We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations."

Butterfly Conservation is writing an open letter to Steve Reed, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, calling for the Government to act now for nature by declaring a 'Nature Emergency' and banning butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides once and for all.

Dr Fox continued: "When used on farmland, these chemicals make their way into the wild plants growing at field edges, resulting in adult butterflies and moths drinking contaminated nectar and caterpillars feeding on contaminated plants.

"Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, it’s time for the UK to follow suit and put the natural world first."