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The Guardian World1 min read
Britain’s favourite butterfly revealed – and it’s a familiar backyard beauty
TL;DR
The peacock butterfly has been voted Britain's favourite butterfly in a poll by Butterfly Conservation, receiving over 20,000 votes. It outperformed 59 other native species, with the orange-tip and red admiral following in second and third place.
Key points
- Peacock butterfly voted Britain's favourite
- Over 20,000 votes were cast
- Orange-tip and red admiral ranked second and third
- Peacock butterfly is common in British backyards
- Butterfly Conservation conducted the poll
Mentioned in this story
Butterfly Conservation
peacock butterflyorange-tip butterflyred admiral butterflyholly blue butterfly
The votes are in on Britain’s favourite butterfly, and it is one of the most ubiquitous yet spectacular backyard beauties that has flown to victory.
With its lavender, yellow and maroon eye spots and luscious rusty red and black colouration, the peacock butterfly is both beautiful and commonplace, flying throughout spring, summer and autumn in all corners of the British Isles.
It beat 59 other native species in the charity Butterfly Conservation’s poll to find the nation’s favourite for the first time, in which more than 20,000 votes were cast. The rest of the rainbow coalition top five were the orange-tip in second place, the red admiral in third, followed by the holly blue and the sulphur-yellow brimstone.
The runner-up was the orange-tip butterfly. Photograph: Albaimages/Alamy
All five are common species widely seen in gardens, parks and suburbs across most of the country. More elusive and endangered species fared less well, with Britain’s largest butterfly, the swallowtail, finishing ninth, possibly because this exotic-looking insect is usually seen only in the wild of the Norfolk Broads. The charismatic, iridescent purple emperor, which is adored by a vibrant subculture of enthusiasts, finished in an unexpectedly lowly 15th position.
Although voters eschewed some of the showiest of lepidoptera, moth-like skippers and beautiful but less colourful butterflies received little support: all of the bottom 10 were grey, brown, golden-brown or black-winged insects.
Kate Merry, the head of engagement at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The response to Britain’s favourite butterfly has been absolutely wonderful, and we’re not surprised. It’s clear that people up and down the country love butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colours, and voted in their thousands for their favourites.
Q&A
What butterfly was voted Britain's favourite?
The peacock butterfly was voted Britain's favourite butterfly.
How many votes were cast in the Butterfly Conservation poll?
More than 20,000 votes were cast in the Butterfly Conservation poll.
Which butterflies were in the top five of the poll?
The top five butterflies included the peacock, orange-tip, red admiral, holly blue, and brimstone.
What are the characteristics of the peacock butterfly?
The peacock butterfly is known for its lavender, yellow, and maroon eye spots, along with rusty red and black coloration.
