The species is currently leading 2023 Big Butterfly Count.

The number of red admirals being seen in the UK has surged since last year, with the butterfly currently the most spotted species in this year’s Big Butterfly Count.

More than 170,000 sightings of red admirals have been reported since the start of the survey on 14 July. This an increase of 400 per cent on the same period last year, when the red admiral was the fifth most common butterfly.

The gatekeeper, which was the most spotted last year, is so far the second most commonly seen butterfly, with the large white in third place.

The red admiral has traditionally been a migrant species which travels to the UK from North Africa and continental Europe, but warmer winters mean that it is now overwintering in the UK, especially in the South of England.

However, the scale of the increase on last year has been unexpected.

Dr Zoë Randle, senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: “We’ve been surprised to see the red admiral taking the lead, however with the increased frequency of warm weather, the UK may well become a permanent home for this species.

“The results so far show just how vital the Big Butterfly Count is. We couldn’t get the depth and breadth of data we’re collecting without the help of the general public. We’re calling on people across the UK to please get out for the count and record your butterfly sightings over the next few days.

“With climate change here to stay, we need people to take part more than ever before and help us understand how extreme weather is affecting our butterflies.”

The Big Butterfly Count continues until Sunday, 6 August, with the public encouraged to take part before it closes. More than 90,000 counts have so been made and more than a million butterfly sightings reported.

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