Butterfly crisis

Experts demand ban on toxin killing them

- NADA FARHOUD

A NATIONAL butterfly emergency must be declared, experts say.

The charity Butterfly Conservation reports that its annual survey by the public shows a hugely concerning decline in UK butterfly numbers.

Participants spotted just seven on average per 15 minutes, down almost 50% on last year's average of 12 and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.

As a result, Butterfly Conservation has urged the government to declare a Nature Emergency and act on it by banning neonicotinoid insecticides.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said: "The previous lowest average number of butterflies per count was nine in 2022.

This latest figure is 22% lower than that, which is very disturbing.