Lots of space for butterflies
The butterfly season has started – also on the golf courses, which the butterflies appreciate because of the roughs and extensive meadows as well as the bees, which also thrive here. Nevertheless, many of the approximately 180,000 butterfly species worldwide are now endangered species. Whether it’s the German Wildlife Foundation or the Red List Center, nature conservation organizations are sounding the alarm when it comes to butterfly populations.
Germany: According to the Red List Center, 42 % of the assessed butterfly species are considered endangered or extinct. Only 31 % are currently not endangered, while 63 % of native species are in long-term decline.
Austria: More than half of all butterfly species are considered endangered, 2% are already extinct. Around 40 % of moths are endangered and 4 % are already extinct.Global 2000+1Red List Center+1
Switzerland: Of the 226 species of butterflies and damselflies assessed, 35% are on the Red List according to IUCN criteria, and a further 20% are considered potentially threatened. An update of this list is currently in preparation and should be completed by 2029
Anyone who discovers or spots butterflies now can easily contribute to population surveys using several useful apps. In Germany, this is the free Schmetterlinge Deutschlands app. In Austria, the “Blühendes Österreich” foundation and Global 2000 have developed the Schmetterlinge Österreichs app, which has been available for counting since . Although there is no specific butterfly app for Switzerland , observations can be reported via the “Webfauna” platform, which collects data for the Red List.
Why are golf courses important for butterflies?
Golf courses offer butterflies a good habitat, especially if they have a large number of different plants from spring to autumn, so that a lot of food is available in the long term. This ranges from the butterfly tree to the stinging nettle, which is a perfect food plant for butterfly caterpillars. Native plants particularly support biodiversity.
