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 babitats. 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 the BAP for that species - although some species-specific BAPs are not yet complete and so you will be taken to a placeholder page. All of the information on this page has been taken from the UK BAP Website at www.ukbap.org.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 1970-1982 period, and data for the 1995-2004 period. The start date for the long-term population trend varies, but is generally a date between 1976 and 1984, depending on the species. The information provided here is taken from The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland.

Species Sorted by Distribution Trend

Species	Distribution Trend (%)
High Brown Fritillary	-79
Wood White	-65
Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-61
White-letter Hairstreak	-53
Purple Emperor	-52
Duke of Burgundy	-52
Grizzled Skipper	-49
Dingy Skipper	-48
Marsh Fritillary	-46
Grayling	-45
Large Heath	-43
Black Hairstreak	-43
Brown Hairstreak	-43
Silver-studded Blue	-43
Wall	-38
Small Blue	-38
Chequered Skipper	-38
Chalkhill Blue	-36
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-34
White Admiral	-31
Réal's Wood White	-30
Dark Green Fritillary	-30
Small Heath	-29
Green Hairstreak	-29
Silver-washed Fritillary	-29
Large White	-27
Heath Fritillary	-25
Adonis Blue	-19
Glanville Fritillary	-17
Small Copper	-16
Common Blue	-15
Lulworth Skipper	-15
Purple Hairstreak	-15
Large Skipper	-12
Mountain Ringlet	-12
Scotch Argus	-10
Small White	-7
Swallowtail	-5
Meadow Brown	-4
Brimstone	-3
Small Tortoiseshell	-3
Green-veined White	-1
Large Blue	0
Small Skipper	+4
Silver-spotted Skipper	+4
Orange-tip	+7
Marbled White	+11
Gatekeeper	+12
Ringlet	+16
Brown Argus	+16
Peacock	+17
Northern Brown Argus	+18
Red Admiral	+25
Speckled Wood	+31
Painted Lady	+32
Holly Blue	+36
Comma	+37
Essex Skipper	+46
Clouded Yellow	+114

Species Sorted by Population Trend

Species	Population Trend (%)
Heath Fritillary	-73
Marsh Fritillary	-73
White-letter Hairstreak	-71
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-70
Pearl-bordered Fritillary	-66
Wall	-65
Wood White	-64
White Admiral	-62
Small Heath	-52
Grayling	-51
Dingy Skipper	-37
Grizzled Skipper	-34
Large White	-28
Duke of Burgundy	-28
Large Heath	-26
Green Hairstreak	-25
Purple Emperor	-18
Small Tortoiseshell	-15
Lulworth Skipper	-13
High Brown Fritillary	-13
Gatekeeper	-12
Northern Brown Argus	-10
Small Copper	-8
Small Blue	-6
Silver-studded Blue	-1
Large Blue	Insufficient Data
Swallowtail	Insufficient Data
Essex Skipper	Insufficient Data
Small Skipper	Insufficient Data
Black Hairstreak	Insufficient Data
Brown Hairstreak	Insufficient Data
Mountain Ringlet	Insufficient Data
Chequered Skipper	Insufficient Data
Réal's Wood White	Insufficient Data
Glanville Fritillary	Insufficient Data
Common Blue	+9
Green-veined White	+11
Large Skipper	+12
Small White	+15
Brown Argus	+16
Brimstone	+22
Orange-tip	+22
Adonis Blue	+28
Meadow Brown	+28
Chalkhill Blue	+31
Silver-washed Fritillary	+33
Purple Hairstreak	+53
Dark Green Fritillary	+63
Peacock	+90
Marbled White	+129
Speckled Wood	+160
Scotch Argus	+165
Holly Blue	+281
Comma	+305
Red Admiral	+350
Ringlet	+373
Painted Lady	+520
Clouded Yellow	+1117
Silver-spotted Skipper	+1524