Butterflies are declining in the UK since the 1970s

From 2005 onwards, butterflies have been adopted as Governmental biodiversity indicators in England, Scotland and for the UK as a whole. The indicators are compiled using butterfly abundance data collected through the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, at a network of site established from 1976 onwards. The indicators show significant long-term declines in each country since the 1970s. In spite of large amounts of investment since 2000 to improve the habitat condition of protected areas, the trend for butterfly populations is no different in protected areas compared to elsewhere. Analysis by policy sector in England, shows that butterflies are declining rapidly in both forestry land and farmland.

Source: T. Brereton, D. B. Roy, I. Middlebrook, M. Botham and M. Warren (2011) The development of butterfly indicators in the United Kingdom and assessments in 2010. Journal of Insect Conservation 15: 139-151
From the issue entitled "Special issue : Butterfly Conservation's 6th Int. Symposium: The 2010 target and beyond for Lepidoptera"
http://www.springerlink.com/content/421m80v314317p82/