Welcome

To see this page in Welsh click yn y Gymraeg

Perlog Du Mannog - Anania funebris- Koen Thonissen
White-spotted Sable (Anania funebris)

The beautiful, varied landscapes of Wales are home to 44 species of butterfly and over 1,850 different moths. Most of these are declining in numbers and range due to climate warming and the way the land is managed.  The changes are complex and some moth species have recently been seen in Wales for the first time. Please scroll down to find out how you can help by volunteering.

Find out more: Click to read about the state of our moths  and butterflies , and about moths in Wales. Explore the links below to leaflets and reports on threatened species in Wales and how you can help. Follow links to our local Branches, where our Members get together.

Wales News

Welsh Clearwing Species Champion Mabon ap Gwynfor_RSPBstaff_CWilliams
Species Champion Mabon ap Gwynfor MS with Clare Williams and RSPB staff

July 2022: Welsh Clearwing Species Champion. A great site visit to Lake Vyrnwy on Friday 15th as part of Wales Environment Link's Species Champions Project. Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Species Champion for the Welsh Clearwing, Cliradain-gymraeg, joined BC Wales' Senior Conservation Officer Clare Williams and RSPB staff at Lake Vyrnwy to look for this beautiful and elusive creature and discuss actions required to ensure its future survival. No adult moths seen but lots of emergence holes and pupal cases visible indicating its continued presence at this wonderful site. 

 

June 2022: Please help us track down the Forester moth in Wales!

Forester - Vlad Proklov
Have you seen this iridescent day-flying moth? The Forester (perhaps misnamed as it's found in grasslands too) is one of our priority species and we need to know more about where in Wales they are seen each year.
 
Please let us know if you've seen any - especially if you walk a Transect and see any there.
Find out more on our Volunteering in Wales page. Thanks!

 

Natur am Byth funder logos

May 2022:  Natur am Byth! project saving the High Brown Fritillary in the Vale of Glamorgan in full swing. The staff team,  Dot and Richard, are making great progress: working on habitat management, collaborating with the Commoners and involving the local community, especially the children through the schools. Thanks to the Lottery Heritage Fund, Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government for funding. Find out more here

Wales News Updates page

Volunteers searching for Marsh Fritillary webs on Gower
Searching for Marsh Fritillary webs, Gower

Could you help?

Please click Volunteering Opportunities to find out how. We need your help now in Wales.

Volunteers are invaluable in helping us to manage habitats, keep track of threatened species, spreading our message via social media and many other tasks.  Please use the Wales Office Contact form below if you have any questions.

Our Current Work Priorities

Our small staff team and committed volunteers focus on work with the most threatened species as set out in the Wales Conservation Strategy

Our highest priority species in Wales are: High Brown Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary Grizzled SkipperDrab Looper,  Pearl-bordered Fritillary, White-spotted Sable Moth, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, Argent & Sable, Caryocolum blandulella, Coleophora serpylletorumChestnut-coloured Carpet, and Portland Moth .

As a member of Wales Environment Link, an active network of environmental Non-Governmental Organisations in Wales, we have a valuable link to working with the Welsh Government.


Join us: Local Branches

Join Butterfly Conservation: members in Wales become part of either North Wales Branch or South Wales Branch, where you'll meet like-minded people. Members share their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm and run conservation workparties, surveys, walks and talks.

Green-veined and Small Whites - Pete Smith
Group of green-veined and Small Whites

Other local groups (non BC):

Brecknock Moth Group,
Ceredigion Moths,    Glamorgan Moth Group, Montgomeryshire Moths, North Wales Lepidoptera, Radnor Moths,  Carmarthenshire Moth and Butterfly Group                 Monmouthshire Moth and Butterfly Group                                                                                                                 

Publications

Wales News Updates - the latest lepidoptera-related news from Wales

Wales Leaflets on butterflies and moths both in your garden and the threatened species and habitats in the wider landscapes of Wales

Newsletters: 'Wales News' on our work here and 'Frits About' on sightings of Fritillary butterflies

White-letter Hairstreak - Photo by Iain Leach
White-letter Hairstreak - Bob Eade

Introduction to recording butterflies and moths in Wales

Wales Reports: in-depth science reports on threatened species

Welsh Language Statement

 

News

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In your area

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Office address

Butterfly Conservation Wales
c/o National Botanic Garden of Wales (Wallace Room),
Llanarthne,
Carmarthenshire
SA32 8HG