Purple Hairstreak, Neozephyrus quercus. The Purple Hairstreak is our commonest Hairstreak and is primarily found in woodland containing oak trees (hence quercus), the foodplant of the larva. The male is hard to spot as they spend much time high in the tree canopy feeding on honeydew. They may come lower in periods of prolonged drought.
Peacock, Inachis io. Probably the longest-lived butterflies in Britain (some even managing to see their 11th month) adults hibernate through the winter and make an early spring appearance. Frequent visitors to Buddleia later in the year when building up fat prior to hibernation, their preferred breeding habitat is large nettle beds in sheltered sunny situations.
Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui. The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, spreading northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia arriving in May and June. It’s a truly global species present on every continent except South America and Antarctica and is one of the few found in Iceland.
Orange tip, Anthocharis cardamines. One of the first species of spring. The male has orange tips to the forewings. These orange tips are absent in the female which is often mistaken for one of the other whites, especially the Green-veined or Small White. The undersides are mottled green and white which is in fact made up of a mixture of black and […]
Meadow brown, Maniola jurtina. One of our commonest butterflies often seen throughout the summer months near grasslands. A highly variable species, particularly with respect to the amount of orange on the forewings and the number of black spots on the underside of the hindwings. Adults will fly in dull weather when most other butterflies are inactive.
Large White, Pieris brassicae. The adult feeds on Thistles, Bluebell, Bugle, Dandelion Devil’s bit and Field Scabious, Fleabane and Knapweeds. The black marking which curves around the apex of the forewing distinguishes it from it’s smaller relation the Small White where the marking is straighter. Nicknamed the ‘Cabbage white’ due to it’s ability to devour cabbages alarmingly quickly.
Large skipper, Ochlodes sylvanus. It can be found anywhere where wild grasses are allowed to grow tall. Hedgerows, woodland clearings and edges are favourites. Active in sunny weather it is attracted to various flowers but has a distinct liking for Bramble flowers. A faint chequered pattern on both sides of the wings distinguish it from the Small and Essex Skippers.
Holly blue, Celastrina argiolus. The Holly Blue has two broods per year, the first appears in April, well before other blue butterflies. It is much the commonest blue found in parks and gardens where it congregates around Holly (in spring) and Ivy (in late summer), prefering honeydew to nectar. It is widespread, but undergoes large fluctuations in numbers from year to year.
Green-veined white, Pieris napi. It is found in meadows, hedgerows and woodland glades but not as often in gardens and parks like its close relatives the Large and Small Whites, for which it is often mistaken.The so-called green veins on the underside of the adults are, in fact, an illusion created by a subtle combination of yellow and black scales.
Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus. The Gatekeeper is one of the ‘Brown’ family. Orange and brown, with black eyespot on forewing tip. Eyespots have two white pupils, not one, as in the Meadow Brown. Gatekeeper is also smaller and more orange with row of tiny white dots on hind underwings. Favourite nectar sources include Wild Marjoram, Common Fleabane, ragworts, and Bramble.
