Key facts
- The peacock butterfly has been voted Britain's favorite butterfly.
- Over 20,000 votes were cast in the Butterfly Conservation poll.
- The orange-tip and red admiral butterflies were the second and third most popular.
- Common garden species dominated the top rankings.
- The Big Butterfly Count survey begins on July 17.
The peacock butterfly has been crowned Britain's favorite butterfly after receiving more than 20,000 votes in a poll conducted by the charity Butterfly Conservation. This common yet striking species, known for its vibrant rusty red, black, and eye-spot coloration, triumphed over 59 other native species.
The poll results highlight a preference for widely recognized garden visitors, with the orange-tip butterfly securing second place and the red admiral taking third. The top five were rounded out by the holly blue and the sulphur-yellow brimstone, all species frequently seen in urban and suburban environments.
In contrast, more elusive or endangered butterflies, such as Britain's largest butterfly, the swallowtail, finished in ninth place, and the charismatic purple emperor ranked 15th. Less colorful, moth-like skippers and other less conspicuous species occupied the bottom of the rankings.
Kate Merry, head of engagement at Butterfly Conservation, expressed delight at the public's enthusiastic participation, noting that the peacock butterfly is a "worthy winner" and a species many associate with the general idea of butterflies. The charity anticipates a strong showing for the peacock butterfly in the upcoming Big Butterfly Count, with large numbers of caterpillars currently being reported.
The Big Butterfly Count, the world's largest butterfly survey, is set to commence on July 17. Participants will spend 15 minutes recording butterfly and day-flying moth sightings. Another species expected to be abundant this summer is the painted lady, a long-distance migrant from Africa that finished 10th in the poll.