Beds butterfly data revealed

Grass-feeding species thrived on the substantial grass growth, prompted by last year’s incessant rain.

A total of 913 meadow browns were spotted in Beds – 18,500 in total across the country – about twice as many as in 2011.

The top three species spotted in Beds were the meadow brown – which made up 54 per cent of total sightings – small white, and ringlet.

Overall however, 2012 was not a good year with recorders reporting 43 per cent fewer species on average than in 2011 survey counts.

The findings are from the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey 2012, conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology and Butterfly Conservation.

Survey co-ordinator Dr Zoë Randle said: “Last year was fantastic for the Meadow Brown however the overall picture is that butterfly populations are suffering in the wider countryside and this needs to be addressed urgently.”

Kate Risely, another survey co-ordinator, said: “Record-breaking rainfall during the summer months affected birds and butterflies alike, and many species suffered a disastrous season.

“Credit is due to all the volunteer recorders who braved the weather and collected this valuable data on butterfly populations.