We look back at the 2026 Butterfly season with less than 20% of season remaining in terms of butterfly numbers. 11 species had their best or 2nd best summers ever with representatives from every family. Gatekeeper for the Browns but it was also very much a Vanessid, Lycaenid and Pierid summer.

Surprised to have a mating pair of Purple Hairstreaks drop down in front of me last night. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

Always a nice surprise to see Swallowtails when you are on a non-butterflying holiday. Puglia, Italy. Swallowtail (Papilio machaon gorganus) and Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Always nice to find Purple Hairstreaks. Find an Oak tree and watch on a warm sunny evening for their aerial duels which give away their presence. With the hot weather they regular landed wings wide open. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

To find out more visit www.sbbt.org.uk/sbbt-launch-...

Funding from Defra’s #SpeciesRecovery programme, complemented by support from the experts at the @sbbtrust.bsky.social. The team aims to define exactly what needs to be done to save this spectacular but vulnerable butterfly, restore its habitats and protect its equally rare foodplant, Milk-parsley.

@sbbtrust.bsky.social , alongside @naturalengland.bsky.social and other partners, has today, launched a new project to bring Britain’s largest butterfly and its only native swallowtail species back from the brink of extinction. #wildagain #SpeciesRecovery www.gov.uk/government/n...

Over 350 threatened species to benefit from record investment

130 projects encompassing 364 threatened species to receive funding of £60 million from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme

gov.uk

A young Barn Owl spent a while in an around our garden in North Yorkshire this evening. @northyorkmoors.org.uk

Very happy to have contributed to the study of the genomic differentiation of the British swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon britannicus). Despite the regular immigration of P. machaon from the nearby mainland, the British swallowtail butterfly remains genetically distinct. 1/..

RES Publications@respublications.bsky.social · last mo.

New #OpenAccess research by @benoitevol.bsky.social et al. in #RESInsectConsDiv reports on the genomic distinctiveness and #conservation #genomics of the British #swallowtail butterfly (#Papilio machaon britannicus) doi.org/10.1111/icad.70102 #WholeGenomeSequencing

New #OpenAccess research by @benoitevol.bsky.social et al. in #RESInsectConsDiv reports on the genomic distinctiveness and #conservation #genomics of the British #swallowtail butterfly (#Papilio machaon britannicus) doi.org/10.1111/icad.70102 #WholeGenomeSequencing

The Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust (SBBT) challenges the conclusions of a recent review by Ingate calling for radical new strategies in managing the British Swallowtail (Papilio machaon britannicus). www.sbbt.org.uk/latest-news/...

reduced genetic diversity, and some evidence of inbreeding 2. there has been some gene flow with continental subspecies –however, the genomic distinctiveness of Papilio machaon britannicus (currently) remains differentiated 3. there is no evidence of increased genetic load (deleterious mutations)

This supports its status as a valid subspecies and justifies special conservation efforts. The major molecular study reveals several key points about the genetics of Papilio machaon britannicus that are directly relevant to its informed conservation: 1. there is evidence of genetic drift and

A Whole genome study of the British Swallowtail (Papilio machaon britannicus) has been completed for the first time. @norfolknats.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social @patrickbarkham.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/icad...

Endemic but not eroded: Genomic distinctiveness and conservation genomics of the British swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon britannicus)

Through whole-genome sequencing of P. machaon populations across Europe, we demonstrate that P. m. britannicus forms a genetically distinct and isolated lineage. Demographic modelling revealed weak ...

doi.org

Coming shortly check out this podcast for #WorldSwallowtailDay: World Swallowtail Day 2026: Celebrating and Saving Iconic Butterflies. www.zsl.org/news-and-eve...

With Sophie Ledger, Red List Research Associate and Manager at ZSL's Institute of Zoology, and Dr Mark Collins, President of the SBBT. We explore the ecology, adaptations and challenges of this remarkable family of butterflies, and the work being done to protect and conserve them.

Lets celebrate #WorldSwallowtailDay by posting your favourite photos and videos of Swallowtails. www.sbbt.org.uk/world-swallo...

Happy World Swallowtail Day! 🦋 Swallowtails are some of the largest, most beautiful and rarest butterflies on earth 🌎 Help support our work protecting swallowtails globally by visiting www.sbbt.org.uk 📹: Video Bhutan Glory by Sonam Dorji

A favourite Swallowtail photo I took for #WorldEnvironmentDay

Can we please have a late Swallowtail surge in Britain's Favourite Butterfly poll? If you haven't voted yet, please use your democratic power before June 7th! britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk

Home - Britain’s Favourite Butterfly

Flashy, adventurous or fantastically freaky. Britain has 60 native butterflies, each with their own story. Explore what makes them unique.

britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk

Patrick Barkham@patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Enjoyed this beautiful Swallowtail at NWT Hickling yesterday. Also counted 253 Painted Ladies on a 75m stretch of brambles. It's an epic migration year! There are a couple of places left on my Swallowtail tour @greenwingstours.bsky.social next Tuesday 10th. Join us! greenwings.co/our-holidays...

Rather surprised to see a male Emperor Moth in my moth trap last night in Swainby, North Yorkshire @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

Great to see the North East England Branch of Butterfly Conservation have launched a Butterfly Atlas, you can find it here. northeastenglandbutterflyatlas.org.uk @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Lets Celebrate World Swallowtail Day on Sunday 14th June, 2026! Do your bit to celebrate the diversity of the swallowtail and birdwing family and to help protect the many species under threat. #worldswallowtailday #swallowtailbutterfly #birdwingbutterfly www.sbbt.org.uk/world-swallo...

The British Swallowtail is now confined to the Norfolk Broads where it faces considerable threats from climate change and habitat loss. Help us raise awareness about this spectacular butterfly by seeing it crowned #BritainsFavouriteButterfly britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk/butterfly/sw...

The trip to Hawnby is best combined with a trip to see the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Yorkshire rarest butterfly. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

Great to catchup with the Duke of Burgundy at Hawnby Hill along with the Green Hairstreaks. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

A number of Holly Blue's appearing around our garden in North Yorkshire. Is this going to be a good year? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

Green Hairstreaks and Emperor Moths have emerged in good numbers around Cod Beck, North Yorkshire. @northyorkmoors.org.uk @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @omsystem.bsky.social 📷 Olympus OM1 with 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro

A Dipper is becoming a regular visitor to Swainby Beck, Swainby, North Yorkshire. @northyorkmoors.org.uk @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

The final zoom talk rounds up 2025 Butterfly season and what a season it was! An Annus Mirablis some would say. We look at the effects of the heat and drought on the fortunes of our species on different habitats as well as exploring a record breaking early start www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yorkshire-...

Yorkshire Butterfly Season 2025 by Nick Hall

Nick Hall is the Yorkshire county Transect coordinator will present a review of the 2025 Butterfly Season.

eventbrite.co.uk