Barcelona Confirms New Butterfly Species

Why this is here: The uBMS project relies on roughly 40 volunteers who actively monitor butterflies each week in Barcelona’s 29 parks and gardens.

Barcelona’s city council confirmed the discovery of a new butterfly species—the Callophrys avis—within the Park del Laberint de Horta. The finding brings the total number of butterfly species observed in the Catalan capital to 52, representing roughly 26% of all species present in Catalunya. This butterfly species has one generation per year and relies on the madroño and roldor plants for survival.

Researchers at CREAF coordinate the urban Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, uBMS, with support from about 40 volunteer observers. These volunteers conduct weekly censuses in 29 parks and gardens, tracking butterfly presence and abundance from March to November. Data reveals that five common species currently account for 64% of all observations.

The city is also implementing strategies like urban meadows and low-intensity forest management to support biodiversity, but the long-term effects of climate change and urban development on these sensitive populations remain unclear. The work of monitoring continues to gather data and inform ecological management.