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Insects and Spiders - Butterflies 1
This butterflies food plant is predominantly Bird's foot trefoil. Can you identify it?

Insects and Spiders - Butterflies 1

Butterflies are one of our prettiest insects with their colourful and delicate wings. It is a popular belief that butterflies have very short life spans. However, depending on the species, adult butterflies can live from between a week to nearly a year.

You can click on the images to make them larger.

1.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of Svdmolen
Large Heath
Chequered Skipper
Small Copper
Orange Tip
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Hesperiidae
  • Genus: Carterocephalus
  • Species: C. palaemon
  • Extinct in England, but stable in Scotland.
  • Distribution centred on Fort William.
  • Due to being very active, this butterfly needs a lot of nectar and sunshine.
  • Prefers woodland and even blue woodland flowers!
2.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of Olaf Leillinger
Wood White
Speckled Wood
Dark Clouded Yellow
Ringlet
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Nymphalidae
  • Genus: Aphantopus
  • Species: A. hyperantus
  • Being a dark colour, this butterfly is able to warm up quickly.
  • One of the few that flies on overcast days.
  • Is not typically found in open areas, such as grassland or heathland.
  • Male and female are almost identical.
3.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of D. Gordon E. Robertson
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Red Admiral
Essex Skipper
Grayling
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Hesperiidae
  • Genus: Thymelicus
  • Species: T. lineola
  • Found over much of south England.
  • First recorded in Wales in 2000.
  • Can be spotted visiting flowers such as thistles and red clover.
  • This species is expanding rapidly, particularly in northern areas.
4.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of http://www.thinkoholic.com/
Northern Brown Angus
Duke of Burgundy
Small Tortoiseshell
Purple Emperor
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Riodinidae
  • Genus: Hamearis
  • Species: H. lucina
  • Found in scattered colonies across southern England.
  • Adults rarely visit flowers.
  • Males perch on a prominent leaf at the edge of scrub.
  • Females are elusive, often flying low to the ground.
5.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of Guido Gerding
Orange Tip
Small Copper
White Admiral
Purple Hairstreak
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Pieridae
  • Genus: Anthocharis
  • Species: A. cardamines
  • A true sign of spring, being one of the first species to emerge.
  • Flies in every direction, wandering amongst woodland margins and headgerows.
  • Has a wide range of habitats, including gardens.
6.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of www.tintazul.com.pt/julio.reis/
Dingy Skipper
Marsh Fritillary
Small White
Green Hairstreak
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Nymphalidae
  • Genus: Euphydryas
  • Species: E. aurinia
  • Found all over the UK, but scarce.
  • Restricted to chalk and limestone grassland, damp fields and heaths.
  • Main foodplant is Devil's-bit Scabious. Will eat Field and Small scabious too.
  • The bright colours fade after a few days.
7.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of LittleHow
Essex Skipper
Common Blue
Wood White
Swallowtail
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Papilionidae
  • Genus: Papilio
  • Species: P. machaon
  • The UK's largest native butterfly, and also one of our rarest.
  • British subspecies confined to the fens of the Norfolk broads.
  • This is due to milk parsley being the only food plant used by the caterpillars.
8.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of http://ernstvikne.wordpress.com/
Common Brimstone
Chequered Skipper
Holly Blue
Common Blue
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Lycaenidae
  • Genus: Polyommatus
  • Species: P. icarus
  • Is found throughout Britain, even as far north as Orkney.
  • Food plant is predominantly Bird's foot trefoil.
  • The habitat includes woodland, coastal dunes, meadows.
  • Wherever their food plant is, this butterfly is likely to be.
9.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of Olaf Leillinger
Chequered Skipper
White Admiral
Wood White
Common Brimstone
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Pieridae
  • Genus: Leptidea
  • Species: L. sinapis
  • A dainty butterfly with a slow and delicate flight.
  • Adults always rest with their wings closed.
  • Warm, damp and sheltered is its ideal habitat.
  • Female lays her eggs on members of the pea family in late May and June.
10.
Can you identify this butterfly?
Photograph courtesy of Anaxibia
Purple Emperor
Ringlet
Duke of Burgundy
Essex Skipper
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Nymphalidae
  • Genus: Apatura
  • Species: A. iris
  • The male is affectionately known as 'His Majesty'.
  • A magnificent and elusive butterfly.
  • Can be seen in deciduous woodland, usually those containing oak trees.
  • Unlike most butterflies, it does not feed from flowers.

 

Author:  Sarah Garratty

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