White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Invertebrate > insect - butterfly > Butterfly |
| Red List Status: | Vulnerable (Not Relevant) [VU(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Limenitis camilla |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1764) |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | Fox & Dennis, 2021 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | GB Red List (Fox et al. 2022): VU. Statistically significant 60% decline in abundance since 1976 and a 18% short-term (10 year 2010-2019) decline; 57% long-term decline in distribution since 1976 and a 17% short-term decline (Fox et al. 2023) |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | A woodland butterfly preferring shadier woodland than most butterfly species where its larvae feed on the straggly growth of Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) in the dappled shade of trees; a local species found across the southern half of England (and SE Wales). A background of decline but also evidence of range expansion in some areas. The species has moderate dispersal ability. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Good practice woodland management, particularly of oak woodlands and retention of Honeysuckle growing in partial or full shade and bramble nectar source. |
Species Assessment
Not relevant as no Key Actions defined.
Key Actions
No Key Actions Defined
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.