The large heath is confined to extensive blanket bogs and raised bogs. It has lost much of its habitat to drainage, afforestation and peat extraction. The overall status and future prospects of its habitat is poor.

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It is vulnerable in Ireland. It is the only Irish butterfly with a threat status (Vulnerable) in the European Red List of butterflies.

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Image (c) by Ryan Hodnett, used under Creative Commons License BY-SA 4.0.