health
March 10, 2026
Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK
Early spring sightings show colourful insect is a resident species for first time in decades, says conservation charity
TL;DR
- The large tortoiseshell butterfly is now a resident species in the UK after being declared extinct there last century.
- Early spring sightings in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall, and the Isle of Wight confirm its return.
- This marks the first time in 58 years that Butterfly Conservation has added a species to Britain's native list.
- Unlike the small tortoiseshell, the large tortoiseshell is tree-dwelling, and its caterpillars feed on trees like elm, willow, aspen, and poplar.
- Factors contributing to its return include population rises in the Netherlands and France, and potentially global heating.
- Wild breeding was confirmed in Dorset in 2020 and has since been observed more widely.
- People are encouraged to report sightings on the iRecord citizen science app to help monitor the butterfly's distribution and population.
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