Butterfly Conservation runs the Big Butterfly Count every year, which gives experts a good idea of which butterfly species are the most commonly found in Britain – but these numbers change every year.
What’s the most common butterfly species in the UK?
The 2024 Big Butterfly Count found that the most abundant British butterfly species is the gatekeeper butterfly, with 190,413 in the annual count. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, however, the ringlet butterfly was found to be the most abundant butterfly species. It was the lowest number of butterflies spotted overall in the survey's 14-year history.
In 2023’s count, the most abundant butterfly species in the UK was the red admiral butterfly, with the gatekeeper coming in second place. In 2022's Big Butterfly Count, the gatekeeper butterfly was top again.
Which country has the most butterflies?
On the global stage, Colombia is believed to have the most butterflies in the world. A 2021 Natural History Museum study found that Colombia supported the world’s richest butterfly faunas, thanks to its diverse range of habitats. 3,642 butterfly species were found there, compared to the 500-odd in Europe.
Top image: Gatekeeper butterfly (credit: Getty Images)