Wildlife

UK Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Conservation

Conservation of the marsh fritillary butterfly, one of the UK's most endangered insects, and its welfare needs.

Key Facts

Marsh fritillary is one of the UK's rarest butterflies, confined to specialist habitats
Devil's-bit scabious is the sole larval food plant requiring specific grassland management
Populations are highly fragmented and vulnerable to local extinction
Larvae overwinter in communal silken webs on devil's-bit scabious plants
Conservation grazing maintains the open grassland structure needed by this species

Welfare Considerations

Individual marsh fritillary larvae are vulnerable to habitat degradation and isolation of populations, with grazing management directly determining survival rates.

What You Can Do

Support marsh fritillary conservation through Butterfly Conservation
Volunteer for conservation grazing projects on marsh fritillary sites
Advocate for agri-environment schemes targeting marsh fritillary habitat