August

Silver spotted Skipper Butterfly (Hesperia comma)

Now localised to only just a few sites across Southern England, the Silver spotted Skipper is most likely to be found on short grazed chalk grassland from August to September.

It is small butterfly, around 34mm size and a particularly fast flyer in warm sunshine, its low darting flight often makes it difficult to follow even while nectaring.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma) Male. Similar size and appearance to the Large Skipper.

Quick Info

Family Group: Hesperiidae – Skippers.
Habitat: close grazed grassland on chalkhills and downs
When: August to September
Adult Nectar Plant: Thistles (Cirsium sp), Scabious, Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare).
size around: 34mm
Caterpillars feed on: Grasses
Photographed: 11th August, 2013 Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire.

Silver-spotted Skipper Butterfly (Hesperia comma)

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma) sunbathing after a period of cloud cover

From above with open wings, the Silver spotted Skipper is a golden yellow and brown colour, looking similar in appearance to the Large Skipper Butterfly (Ochlodes venata), the males have the black sex brand. The under-wings of both the male and female have the distinctive silvery white spots.

During periods of cloud cover on exposed hillsides they often rest low down amongst the grass stems or on a warm patch of bare soil, making them quite difficult to spot.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Female

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele)

About

The Grayling butterfly much prefers to sit rather than fly. Always sitting with wings closed, whether it is sunny or over cast. The colours and markings of the undersides the hind-wings, give almost perfect camouflage with the ground. When disturbed it will fly just a short distance before landing, and doing the amazing disappearing trick once again.

Where

A widespread butterfly mainly found around the coastal regions of England and Wales, and a small number of inland locations.

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele) showing eye spot © Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2017

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele)

Habitat – Warm dry bare stony or sandy ground around cliffs, sand dunes, heaths and open woodland.

When

June-September with numbers of individuals peaking around August although it may vary slightly from year to year and the colonies location.

Quick Info

Family Group– Browns – Nymphalidae
Size around – 50mm
Larval Food Plant: Various Grasses
Adult Nectar Plant: Hawkweeds, thyme and heather
Population Status– Vulnerable with falling numbers due to continued habitat loss
Photographed – Wiveton Downs, Norfolk

Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

Brief Description

A small meadow butterfly with orange and dark brown margined upper-wings and buff under-wings, native to the British isles.

On the wing in July and August the Essex skipper is sometimes found in the same habitat along side the, small skipper in meadows and other grassy places although it does prefer sunny embankments and chalky hill sides.

Being almost identical to the Small skipper, and sometimes sharing the same habitat, identification can often be difficult, one main difference is the underside of the antennae tip is black.

Essex Skipper Butterfly (Thymelicus lineola)

Quick Info

Family Group – Hesperiidae.
Where – Across Southern and Eastern England and Wales.
Habitat- Coastal areas, to inland sunny embankments, chalky hillsides meadows and grassland.
When– July – August.
Size– Wingspan 26 – 30mm.
Larval Food Plants – Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Couch Grass (Elymus repens)
Adults nectar on – Ox-eye daisy, Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus), Thistles, Ragwort.
Population Status – Spreading steadily Northward reaching Parts of Central England.
Photographed – July 2011. (will be updated)

Marbled White Butterfly (Melanargia galathea)

Found mainly in the southern half of the UK, in the Midlands and the south-west preferring the chalk and limestone grassland. Marbled white butterflies are usually seen flying from July-August, sometimes in large numbers emerging once a year in a single brood.

The Marbled White butterfly has distinctive black and white markings on the on the upper-wings, the male also has black markings the under-wings, in the female they are light brown. Both sexes have eye-spots on the underside of the hind-wings.

Marbled-White (Melanargia galathea)- Male showing underwings

Quick Info

Name: Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
Family Group: Nymphalidae, Browns.
Flight Period: July-August.
Habitat: Chalk or limestone soils with flower rich Grassy Slopes, Meadows, Roadsides Verges.
Adult nectar plants: Brambles, Common Ragwort, Thistles, Knapweed and others.
Caterpillar feeds on: Grasses like Sheep’s Fescue, Cocksfoot and others
Wingspan: around 50mm
Photographed: – 4th and 5th July 14
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes.

Marbled White Butterfly (Melanargia galathea) wings open rested on knapweed

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)Butterfly wings open

Flighty and active on bright sunny days, the Males are always busy searching for newly emerging females, breifly resting to take nectar from Brambles, Ragwort Thistles or Knapweed, their distinctive colouration makes these butterflies visible even in flight, making them stand out from some distance.

During broken sunshine they may be seen more leisurely, resting on tall stems of grasses or nectaring from wildflowers, although they will quickly take flight if disturbed.

Marbled-White Butterfly- Female showing underwings resting on Knapweed

Marbled-White (Melanargia galathea) Butterfly- Female showing underwings