Rare brown hairstreak butterflies rebounded in south-west Wales after landowners reduced annual hedge flailing.
Volunteers found more than 300 eggs near Llandeilo, marking record counts after years of decline.
The butterflies lay eggs on blackthorn, which flailing often destroys during autumn cutting.
Butterfly Conservation persuaded landowners to rotate hedge cutting every two to three years.
Egg counts rose by 50% along the A40 after gentler management and new blackthorn planting.
Nearby flailed hedges saw egg numbers collapse.
Conservationists say less frequent cutting could save the species and help wider wildlife recovery.
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