Butterflies are heading north: Species once found only in the south now seen across the country thanks to warmer climate 3/4 butterflies decreased in population over the past ten years But a small number of species with growing populations can acclimatise Unprecedented: Minority species with growing populations are heading north as they acclimatise to the warmth Butterfly species once found mainly in the South of England are spreading north. A warmer climate has made northern parts of the country more habitable. Three-quarters of UK butterflies showed a ten-year decrease in either their distribution or population levels. But a minority of common species, such as the Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood, have spread northwards. Research by the University of York found that only butterflies whose populations are stable or growing have managed to thrive in the new environments. Certain endangered species that rely on a specific habitat - such as the High Brown Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy - still face extinction. Researchers warn the future survival of many butterfly colonies depends on reversing population decline now in order to protect wildlife as the climate and landscape changes. Butterfly Conservation found 72 per cent of species decreased in abundance over 10 years. For the first time, a significant decrease in the total numbers of wider countryside butterflies have been recorded. The abundance of common, "garden" butterflies dropped by 24 per cent over 10 years. However, other threatened species, including the Large Blue, Marsh Fritillary and Silver-studded Blue, have stabilised or increased due to conservation efforts over the past decade. The climate in Britain has warmed over the last four decades, and many species, including butterflies, have shifted their distributions northwards. While the common garden butterfly is in decline, this Comma insect is one of the breeds making its way up north But the extent of distribution changes has varied greatly among species with some showing rapid expansion and others showing none at all. For those species with stable or increasing population trends that have been expanding their distributions, the amount of suitable habitat available in the landscape was important. The more habitat that is available, the faster a species can expand its distribution area.