Butterflies at risk after wet summers

Monitoring of butterflies at more than 1,000 sites has raised particular concerns about the Duke of Burgundy which had its worst year in more than 30 years of monitoring in 2009.

The butterfly, which used to be a common sight in woodland clearings, has seen its numbers hit new lows each year for the past three summers.

The Lulworth skipper also suffered its worst year last year, with numbers declining by 78 per cent in 18 years, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology showed.

Other rare species including the pearl-bordered fritillary, the high brown fritillary and the wood white continued to struggle after witnessing severe declines in the past three decades.

Conservationists believe the two extremely wet summers in 2007 and 2008 followed by above-average rainfall in July and August 2009 have accelerated long-term declines suffered by the butterflies.

Butterflies find it hard to survive heavy rain.

Conservationists warn that butterflies are an important indicator of the health of the environment and if their numbers are falling, other wildlife will also be in decline.