KILDARE WILDLIFE COLUMN: 87% decline of Green Veined White Butterfly

Another year of butterfly monitoring has come to a end on Lullymore West Bog. Did you know butterflies are are considered indicators of environmental change?

We know so much about their life cycle, and the fact that they have a short life cycle means that changes in butterfly distribution and populations can indicate changes in our environment, from local changes in habitat to climate change. Weekly from April 1 to September 31, staff of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council supported by volunteers have walked a set route around Lullymore West Bog counting the numbers and species of butterflies observed.

This work is part of the National Biodiversity Data Centre Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. This programme of butterfly monitoring was first established in 2008 and according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre analysis of all data over the past fourteen years shows that butterfly populations have declined by 61%.

Some populations of butterfly species have remained stable such as Brimstone and Peacock butterflies. Other species of butterfly including Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Small Heath, Wall Brown and Wood White butterflies have experienced moderate declines in populations.

However other species of butterfly including Speckled Wood, Orange-Tip, Small White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Large White have all experienced strong declines in population with the Green-veined White butterfly experiencing an 87% decline in population. I am sure you will agree seeing butterflies fluttering around our gardens is wonderful. We can all do something to help halt the decline in butterfly populations by simply following the All Ireland Pollinator Plan.

Choose nectar reach plants to grow in your garden and choose with the different seasons in mind so that throughout the growing season you always have flowers blooming bringing colour and nectar for pollinators to your garden.

Now is the time to get planning for next year, learn what to plant by visiting https://pollinators.ie/councils/pollinator-friendly-planting-schemes/ or visiting your local garden centre where the staff will help you choose the right plants for your garden.

Don’t forget if you come across a wildlife species that you would like help identifying I would be happy to help, contact me at [email protected].