Wildlife

Wild Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Welfare

The marsh fritillary is one of the UK's rarest butterflies, dependent on devil's bit scabious in traditionally managed wet grassland, with populations highly fragmented.

Key Facts

Marsh fritillary larvae feed communally in silken webs on devil's bit scabious in autumn
The butterfly requires a mosaic of short and tall grassland for different lifecycle stages
UK populations have declined dramatically with loss of unimproved wet grassland
Agri-environment schemes and National Nature Reserve management are critical to survival
The butterfly is a UK priority species under the Biodiversity Action Plan

Welfare Considerations

Marsh fritillary welfare is tightly linked to grassland management quality. Targeted agri-environment funding for traditional management sustains the populations that remain.

What You Can Do

Support wet grassland conservation projects in your region
Report marsh fritillary sightings to Butterfly Conservation UK
Advocate for agri-environment scheme funding that covers traditionally managed wet meadows