The UK is experiencing a 'butterfly emergency' as the annual Big Butterfly Count recorded its lowest numbers in the survey's 14-year history. Participants spotted an average of just seven butterflies per count, a significant drop from last year's average of 12, with over 9,000 counts reporting zero sightings. The decline is attributed to a combination of a wet spring, cool summer, pesticide pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. Butterfly Conservation has called on the government to declare a 'nature emergency' and ban neonicotinoid pesticides, which are harmful to butterflies as well as bees. Dr. Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, emphasized the urgency of addressing these declines to prevent potential extinction events. The charity's findings highlight the broader environmental distress indicated by the plight of butterflies, urging immediate action to protect these and other species.