Public urged to spend 15 minutes in garden by August 10
There are four days left for Brits to spot this unique species, which has seen its population balloon over the past decade
Brits are being encouraged to keep an eye out for the exotic-looking Jersey tiger moths, which are experiencing a population boom. Butterfly Conservation, a wildlife charity, has noted that these day-flying moths seem to be thriving as individuals partake in its annual butterfly count to record sightings.
The programme, which runs until August 10, invites people to spend 15 minutes noting the butterflies they spot in their gardens, local parks or the countryside. This year, the charity is calling on the public to join what it calls a "nationwide rescue mission" to aid the UK's struggling butterfly species.
As the count hits its halfway mark, Butterfly Conservation reports that participants have spotted 5,300 Jersey tiger moths, surpassing last summer's entire count of 3,496. This represents a staggering 78 per cent increase from 2024 on a per-county average, with the surge credited to the balmy, dry weather that likely enabled the species to flourish and colonise regions of the UK previously beyond their reach.
These moths are easily identified by their black and white tiger stripe forewings and the vivid red-orange or yellow hindwings, which feature prominent black spots. Only 10 years ago, the Jersey tiger moth was mainly confined to the Channel Islands, England's south coast, London and south-east Wales, according to Butterfly Conservation.
Jersey tiger moths, once a rare sight, are now fluttering frequently across southern England and have been making their presence known through East Anglia and into the Midlands. The charity has confirmed sightings this year in locations including Cardiff, Birmingham, Cambridgeshire and Essex, reports Wales Online.
This resurgence contrasts starkly with last year's record low numbers, attributed to the wet spring and cool summer, but it also highlights ongoing long-term declines in the UK. With more than 80 per cent of butterfly species in decline since the 1970s, experts point to habitat damage, climate change and pesticides as contributing factors.
Butterfly Conservation noted that while the striking appearance of Jersey tiger moths has captured public interest, their unexpected appearances also underscore the narrative of climate change.
Dr Richard Fox, head of science at the charity, said: "Butterfly and moth numbers fluctuate naturally each year depending on the weather. This summer's warm, sunny conditions have created a much more favourable environment than last year's cool, wet season, which saw numbers recorded during Big Butterfly Count plunge to record lows.
"It's certainly uplifting to see more butterflies and moths this summer, but one good year can't undo the long-term decline many species are facing."
Dr Fox explained that population peaks during favourable years have become increasingly modest over the past five years, while challenging years have witnessed numbers plummet even further. He noted that the rise in Jersey tiger moth sightings demonstrates how climate change "is reshaping the distribution of wildlife".
"While it's a delight to spot such a vibrant moth in gardens, parks and green spaces, it's also a reminder of how rising temperatures are altering our natural environment," he said.
"This is why the Big Butterfly Count matters. The more people who take part, the more we can learn about how species are adapting, or struggling, in the face of climate change and extreme weather."
Information gathered by the public through the Big Butterfly Count directly shapes national conservation approaches, safeguarding not only butterflies and moths, but the broader ecosystems they inhabit.