The Return of the Large Blue Butterfly

Large Blue Butterfly

An amazing species revival story!  The return of the Large Blue Butterfly in the United Kingdom is being celebrated just 30 years after scientists declared that it was extinct from that region.

The Large Blue Butterfly was re-introduced to the UK from Sweden, about 25 years ago, and is doing well again thanks to a prop in the habitat of certain red ants on which the Large Blue caterpillars feed.  The ants first disappeared due to changes in grazing practices, and the butterflies vanished as well.

Subsequently, suitable habitat for the ants, caterpillars – and of course, the butterflies – was restored on 50 sites in south west England.  Conservation organizations like the National Trust, and Wildlife Trusts help manage the Large Blue Butterfly sites.

Things are going so well now that population levels are now close to numbers not seen since the 1950s.  Some are calling it the most successful insect re-introduction program in the world, as a matter of fact!

Professor Lord May of Oxford, recent President of The Royal Society and former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, said:

“The recovery of the large blue butterfly is the world’s largest-scale, longest-running successful conservation project involving an insect. It illustrates perfectly how the application of sound science can be used to solve some of the apparently intractable problems that face conservationists worldwide today.”

Butterfly conservation efforts have helped the Large Blue Butterfly

But not all butterfly news is so peachy.  In April this year, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme determined that 12 butterfly species have suffered the worst summer on record, and that numbers of the fragile beauties are at their lowest levels in a quarter century.  To blame?  Wet summers and cool temperatures that many believe to be the result of global climate change.

So, while the Large Blue Butterfly is making a comeback, other species are dwindling in numbers.

In addition to going green, conserving, recycling and generally working to reduce your carbon footprint, you can help the butterflies by donating at sites such as Butterfly-Conservation.org or shopping at theanimalrescuesite.com.  Even planting certain flowers and shrubs in your garden can provide habitat for certain butterfly species.

Have any butterfly success stories to share?  Let us know by posting in the comments below.