One of the UK’s rarest butterflies has returned to Wales for the first time in decades.

The endangered Wood White, recognised by its pale cream colouring and striped antennae, has been recorded at four sites in Powys by Butterfly Conservation — including a female observed laying eggs.

The species once maintained a permanent colony in south-east Wales but was lost several decades ago following habitat destruction, with only occasional sightings since.

Butterfly Conservation said butterflies had declined sharply in recent years “because of human actions”, but described the Wood White’s return as a “real success story” for conservation in Wales. Since 1979, the butterfly’s abundance has fallen by 82% across its few surviving strongholds.

The charity believes the Welsh individuals “almost certainly” originated from nearby Shropshire, where targeted conservation efforts have helped sustain populations. Its team confirmed at least four Wood Whites at Natural Resources Wales (NRW) land in Siercwm, including one laying eggs.

Volunteers will carry out further surveys next spring and are liaising with NRW about managing roadside verges alongside forestry plantation roads to support the species.

The discovery comes amid what the charity has called a season of “surprising butterfly and moth activity”, much of it linked to record-breaking weather. Eighteen butterfly species have emerged at least two weeks earlier than average this year, with another 24 emerging at least a week early.

Dr Dan Hoare, Butterfly Conservation’s director of nature recovery, welcomed the positive news but warned: “There are going to be winners and losers from the very rapid climate change we’re experiencing.”

Dr Hoare added: “One way we can increase the number of climate winners is by managing habitats positively so that threatened species can benefit as well as widespread mobile species.

“That means creating and maintaining good quality, connected habitat at a landscape scale, which Butterfly Conservation has been doing for years and will continue to do.”

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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.