Several butterfly species face extinction

DINGY Skipper and Gatekeeper might sound like appealing jobs, but their primary task these days is just staying alive.

The two are among the one-third of Irish butterfly species suffering declining populations and loss of natural habitat. Eleven of the 33 native species, including the Marsh Fritillary, are categorised as endangered, threatened or near-threatened, while the Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Small Blue and Wall Brown are feared to be facing extinction.

They are not alone — five out of our 24 species of damselfly and dragonfly, 51 of our 150 molluscs, 65 of our 244 water beetles and 42 of our 102 bees, as well as three of our 26 mammals and various birds and plants, are all under threat.