The rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly has enjoyed a strong year in Northern Ireland, thanks to warm weather and long-term habitat restoration by Butterfly Conservation and local farmers.
The species, which relies entirely on the plant Devil’s-bit Scabious, has declined sharply over the past century as farming practices changed. But recent surveys of caterpillar nests show major increases at managed sites: one location rose from 24 to 53 nests, another from 24 to 139, and a third from five to 27.
Conservation manager Rose Cremin said good weather helps in the short term, but proper land management is essential for long-term survival. Volunteers survey the silken webs that caterpillars spin each autumn to track population health.
Despite these gains, the butterfly remains vulnerable because it produces only one brood per year, and overall UK butterfly populations continue to decline.
