Two Emperor Moths on a bramble with wings open: one larger and grey (female) and the other smaller and orange (male)
Did you know that a male Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) can smell a female more than 7 miles away? 👃
These winged wonders can be seen across the UK in open countryside such as heathland and moorland between April and May.
📷: Julian Dowding
#MothMonday #MothsMatter #TeamMoth
Deep dive into 50 years of butterfly data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme 📊🦋
The official results, plus fascinating talks on the latest developments in butterfly research and conservation, are now available to watch here 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Aj...
#UKBMS50 #UKBRM
I love getting home now in daylight hours to appreciate the nature in our garden @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Glanville Fritillary had its 3rd best year in 2025 according to the @ukbms.bsky.social results. This species has bucked the general pattern of long-term decline for habitat specialist butterflies in the UK - its numbers have increased by 244% @savebutterflies.bsky.social (📷Mark Searle)
UKBMS results out today!
Results from fifty years of butterfly monitoring! The UKBMS data reveals declines in 33 species over the last 50 years.
Check out the full story below butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blo...
And the full 2025 statistics can be found here: jncc.gov.uk/our-work/off...
White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) also had a poor year in 2025, its 4th worst in 50 years. Its abundance has decreased by 63% at @ukbms.bsky.social sites over that time. @savebutterflies.bsky.social (📷 @iainhleach.bsky.social)
📷 Mark Searle
A deeper dive into the 2025 UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme results. Most species increased at monitored sites compared to 2024, but many were still below average. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) had its 2nd worst year & has decreased by 74% since 1976. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Northern Brown Argus butterfly on a thistle and headline 50 years of butterfly monitoring data reveal specialist species disappearing across UK
Pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly on bluebells
Extraordinary dataset of 44 million+ records of UK #butterflies collected by 782,000 volunteers in the past 50 years shows many species are in long-term decline eg Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
@ukbms.bsky.social is run by @savebutterflies.bsky.social, UKCEH, @btobirds.bsky.social, and JNCC.
🧪 1/
50 years of data reveal specialist butterflies disappearing across the UK, but the good news is that conservation efforts are making a real difference - helping butterflies isn’t complicated, we can all be part of the solution by making places butterfly-friendly 🦋 @savebutterflies.bsky.social
50 years of the incredible UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme @ukbms.bsky.social - amazing citizen science showing the decline of the UK’s butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Volunteer Opportunity: Chequered Skipper and Wood White Surveys at Fineshade Wood, May-June 2026
If you are interested in getting involved, click the link in our bio to sign up to Butterfly Conservation's volunteer platform Assemble.
We'd love to have you on board!
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
The National Forum for Biological Recording has been supporting and advocating for biological recorders with a unique voice for 40 years!
We are proud to be part of the Advisory Council and can't wait to celebrate at the #NFBRConference2026. Be sure to book your place 👇
Yellow Horned of the scotica race from Aviemore last week. Larger and darker than the one's I'm used to seeing locally here in Yorkshire and with a nice purple sheen @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Photo of the top of a hedgerow so lots of green leaves and a bit of blue sky. Most importantly there are 2 Holly Blues seen butterflies perched in the middle of the photo.
Spot the blues! Okay so I did get one quick photo of the Holly Blues seen in Cubbington today 😀 Top of the hedgerow! And another reason hedges are fantastic for wildlife! #butterflies #blue @savebutterflies.bsky.social
A nice surprise finding an Orange Tip butterfly roosting in the garden.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
Ruby Tiger moth perched on purple flowers
Side view of a Ruby Tiger moth resting on a dead plant stem
Side view of a Ruby Tiger moth resting on a dead plant stem
Look out for the spectacular Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) this month 🐯
This small, chunky tiger moth regularly appears in garden moth traps and can be seen during the day as well as at night.
📸: Rachel Scopes, Rob Blanken, Ivan Lynas
#MothMonday #MothsMatter #TeamMoth
Two males and a female Emperor moth spotted at Coton Orchard today @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
A small dark brown and white chequered butterfly sits on a background of green leaves
Grizzled Skipper at Magdalen Hill Down, Hampshire, today. Glorious to see so many butterflies on the wing at this @savebutterflies.bsky.social reserve
Grizzled Skipper butterfly resting on forget-me-nots against a chartreuse background
Grizzled Skippers are back!
The first Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae) of 2026 was seen in Hampshire on the 6 April.
Keep up with the first sightings as they happen 👉 butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/first-butter...
📷: Nigel Kiteley
First comma butterfly of the year spotted yesterday on my walk along a a sheltered footpath in Ringsfield Suffolk #wildwebswednesday @bc-suffolk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Large Heath butterflies
In our current edition, Georgina Paul and Alan Sumnall write about the work of @savebutterflies.bsky.social on one of Wales’ least studied butterflies.
butterfly-conservation.org/large-heath-...
www.wild.cymru/natur-cymru/...
📷 Georgina Paul
A special moment I'll never forget! A Large Tortoiseshell on my garden wall in Exmouth, Devon, basking in the evening sun. Without doubt one of the most exciting #butterfly experiences I've had! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social
Wonderful, thank you! They will be shared on our Facebook (www.facebook.com/savebutterfl...) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/savebutterfl...) channels.
Hi Lynda, beautiful photos! 💙 Would you be happy for us to share on our other social media channels with credit to you?
Saw three Holly Blues at Garston Woods today but this beauty was the only one that posed nicely.
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@rspb.bsky.social
Brimstone and Speckled Wood in the Paddock near Walthamstow Wetlands today @savebutterflies.bsky.social A sure sign that the butterfly season has begun in earnest @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Brimstone butterfly feeding on a dandelion
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly on a dandelion in a lawn
cluster of three dandelion flowers
This is a dandelion appreciation post 💛
Often overlooked, the humble dandelion has a vital part to play in providing valuable nectar for early butterflies and moths, as well as food for their caterpillars.
📷: Small Tortoiseshell - Sophie Hall
📷: Brimstone - Tamás Nestor
#DandelionAppreciationDay
Have a great weekend Andy. Happy reading! 🦋
Butterfly Conservation's hairy caterpillars to see in spring & summer: Oak/Northern Eggar, Drinker, Dark Tussock, Vapourer, Emperor Moth, Fox Moth, Wood Tiger. Graphic of a pen and a checklist next to text which reads: "Spotted a hairy caterpillar? Report your sightings via the ‘Peatland Caterpillars Recording Project’ activity on the iRecord app or website: irecord.org.uk" Photo credits: Bob Eade, Russell Gomm, Iain Leach, Mark Parsons
Look out for these seven hairy caterpillars found on our precious peatlands in the North of England 🐛🔍
Spotted a hairy caterpillar? Report your sighting to us through the ‘Peatland Caterpillars Recording Project’ on iRecord 👉 irecord.org.uk/join/peatland-caterpilla...
Don't panic everyone, the White-letter Hairstreaks are out again! I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing this. Going to be checking for presence at some new sites this spring here in East Devon. All praise the UV torch! @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
