Conservation Status

This page describes various aspects of the conservation status of species regularly found in the British Isles.

UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)

The UK BAP is a UK Government initiative that commits to protection of "biological resources" that includes species and their habitats. A major review took place in 2007, resulting in many butterfly species being added to the list. Species-specific BAPs are created at both a national and local level. Those species with BAPs are listed below - click on a name to see a PDF file representing the BAP for that species. BAP information has been taken from the UK BAP Website at jncc.defra.gov.uk.

Distribution and Population Trends

The tables below show the distribution and population trends of species regularly found in the British Isles. The distribution trend represents a comparison between data for the periods 1995-1999 and 2005-2009. The information provided here is taken from the Butterfly Conservation report The State of the UK's Butterflies 2011.

Species Sorted by Distribution Trend

Species	Distribution Trend (%)
High Brown Fritillary	-49
Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-43
Duke of Burgundy	-30
Small Heath	-29
Wood White	-23
Wall	-21
Grayling	-18
Large Heath	-18
Grizzled Skipper	-17
Purple Hairstreak	-16
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-12
Small Copper	-9
Marsh Fritillary	-9
Large White	-8
Chequered Skipper	-7
Common Blue	-6
Dingy Skipper	-5
Small Blue	-4
Small White	-4
Holly Blue	-3
Small Skipper	-3
Green-veined White	-3
Silver-studded Blue	-3
Small Tortoiseshell	-3
Gatekeeper	-2
Red Admiral	-2
Meadow Brown	-2
Brimstone	-1
Chalkhill Blue	-1
Clouded Yellow	-1
Dark Green Fritillary	-1
Orange-tip	0
Swallowtail	0
Lulworth Skipper	0
Brown Hairstreak	+1
Marbled White	+2
Scotch Argus	+3
Northern Brown Argus	+5
Green Hairstreak	+6
Comma	+8
Ringlet	+8
Essex Skipper	+8
Large Skipper	+8
Heath Fritillary	+8
Brown Argus	+10
Painted Lady	+10
Cryptic Wood White	+10
Silver-washed Fritillary	+12
White Admiral	+14
Peacock	+17
Speckled Wood	+20
Black Hairstreak	+21
Glanville Fritillary	+22
Mountain Ringlet	+24
Adonis Blue	+30
White-letter Hairstreak	+32
Silver-spotted Skipper	+35
Purple Emperor	+44
Large Blue	+100

Species Sorted by Population Trend

Species	Population Trend (%)
High Brown Fritillary	-69
Essex Skipper	-67
Small Tortoiseshell	-64
Small Skipper	-62
White-letter Hairstreak	-55
Small Heath	-52
Lulworth Skipper	-52
Wood White	-49
Duke of Burgundy	-46
Northern Brown Argus	-44
Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-42
Brown Hairstreak	-40
Brown Argus	-38
Wall	-37
Large Skipper	-35
Heath Fritillary	-34
Grayling	-33
Scotch Argus	-33
Common Blue	-30
Holly Blue	-29
Grizzled Skipper	-29
Silver-studded Blue	-29
Small Copper	-28
Green Hairstreak	-27
Small White	-26
Chalkhill Blue	-26
Peacock	-24
Gatekeeper	-23
Red Admiral	-21
Marbled White	-21
Dingy Skipper	-19
Silver-spotted Skipper	-19
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-19
White Admiral	-9
Purple Hairstreak	-9
Green-veined White	-9
Orange-tip	-8
Meadow Brown	-8
Brimstone	0
Dark Green Fritillary	+18
Ringlet	+25
Small Blue	+31
Purple Emperor	+31
Adonis Blue	+33
Comma	+34
Large White	+34
Silver-washed Fritillary	+38
Speckled Wood	+42
Painted Lady	+52
Marsh Fritillary	+71
Large Heath	+189
Clouded Yellow	+235
Large Blue	+271
Swallowtail	Insufficient Data
Black Hairstreak	Insufficient Data
Mountain Ringlet	Insufficient Data
Chequered Skipper	Insufficient Data
Cryptic Wood White	Insufficient Data
Glanville Fritillary	Insufficient Data