Butterfly

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

Small and fast flying, the Dingy Skipper Butterfly with it’s brown and cream mottled markings, is well camouflaged into the grassy surroundings. It can often take flight and blend in so well, at times can be difficult to spot.

Widely spread across the southern half of Britain, Dingy Skippers are most often found on open chalk or limestone grassland, and are on the wing from the last week of April into June.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

Quick Info

Family Group: Hesperiidae – Skippers.
Where: A Native Butterfly widely spread across England and Wales in small pockets.
Habitat: A meadow butterfly that also be found on old waste ground, Disused quarries, disused railway sidings and open grassy woodland rides.
When: Flying where found in largest numbers from May-June.
Adult nectar plant: Buttercups, Bird’s foot-trefoil, Dandelions, Speedwell, Plantains, Hawkweeds.
Size: Wingspan 24mm.
Larval Food Plant: Mainly Bird’s foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) but will also use Horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa)
Photographed: Top and Left, Ketton Quarry, Rutland 25th May 13. Right, Cribbs Meadow, Leicestershire, 25th May 12.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

The Dingy Skipper often shares the same habitat and a similar flight period to the Grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae), although nether butterfly shares the same larval food plants.

Seen from a distance both butterflies may be mistaken for day flying moths such as Mother Shipton, (Callistege mi), which also shares similar flight times and habitat.

During sunny weather, Dingy Skipper Butterflies enjoy basking in warm sunshine, perching up on the old flower heads of Knapweed, or on tall dry grasses, if it is overcast or a cool breeze, they may choose a more sheltered position on the ground.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) Cribbs Meadow on Buttercups

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) on Buttercups

White Admiral Butterfly (Limenitis camilla)

The White Admiral a truly distinctive large woodland butterfly and a superb flyer.

The upper-wings are black or dark brown in colour, depending on the light, with broad white bands and two rows of black dots, along the edge of the hind-wing.

The under-wings are striking in colour, are a rich orange/brown with the same white stripe as the upper wings the body is a light blue gray.

Where

Mainly Southern and Central areas of England (Dorset, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire)

White Admiral Butterfly -underside on brambles

White Admiral Butterfly (Limenitis camilla)

White Admiral Butterfly on Bramble Flowers

Habitat

The White Admiral prefers mature woodland, in both deciduous and mixed deciduous woodland, with rides and open areas of dappled shade, that allow the growth of brambles for nectaring adult butterflies.

Information

Name: White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
Family Group: Browns – Nymphalidae.
When: June – August
Size: 50mm
Main Larval Food Plant: Only Honeysuckle see Common Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
Adults nectar on: Mainly on Bramble Flowers.
Population Status: The White Admiral is a Priority Species for conservation due to habitat loss.
Photographed: June 26th 2011 – Fermyn Wood, Northamptonshire.

Black Hairstreak (Strymondia Pruni)

about

A small brown butterfly, with a defined white line, black spotted markings, and an orange band edged with a white fringe, on the under-wings.

Habitat

Like all Hairstreak Butterflies the Black Hairstreak prefers a sunny position more often than not above head height. Occasionally though they may be seen descending to nectar on bramble or other seasonal blossom.

The upper wings are rarely seen except in flight.

The Black Hairstreak is quite similar in appearance to White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)e

Black Hairstreak (Strymondia Pruni) on Bramble Flowers

Quick Info

Family Group: Lycaenidae (Blues).
Where: A narrow belt of mature woodland areas, between Oxford and Peterborough.
Habitat: Mature blackthorn thickets in sheltered woodland clearings and rides.
When: Flying in largest numbers from mid June to early July.
Size: Wingspan around 35mm.
Larval Food Plant: Leaf buds and mature leaves of Blackthorn (prunus spinosa)
Adult Nectar Plant: Bramble, Wild Privet, Dog Rose.
Population Status:
Photographed: 14th June 2011, Glapthorn Cow Pasture.

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)

Description

A small brown butterfly, with a thin black line followed by an orange band and white lines, that form the letter W on the hind under-wing.

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) on Marjoram

White-letter Hairstreak on Marjoram

Information

Family Group: Lycaenidae (Blues).
Where: Through-out Southern and Central England.
Habitat: Woodland rides and hedgerows with Elm trees.
Family Group: Lycaenidae (Blues).
When: Flying where found in largest numbers from July – August.
Size: 25-36mm.
Larval Food Plant: The blossom and early buds of Elm trees.
Adult nectar Plants: When not in tree tops adults may nectar on Bramble Flowers, Wild Marjoram (Origarnum vulgare), Thistles.
Population Status: Due to loss of habitat and falling numbers the White-letter Hairstreak is a priority species for conservation.
Photographed: 15th July (Macro).

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)

Large Skipper Butterfly (Ochlodes venata)

About

The Large Skipper is a small fast flying butterfly often seen till disturbed from it sunny perch, from late June through July. Despite its small size it can be commonly found in almost every county of England and Wales, stretching as far northwards as Ayrshire and Northumberland

Large Skipper Habitat

Found in a varied range of grassy habitats the Large Skipper prefers those in a sunny sheltered spot, where grasses like Common Couch and Cock’s foot are found and left to grow tall. It’s varied range of habitats can often include Woodland edges and paths, Hedgerows, Roadside Verges, urban gardens and even parks.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata) - Female

Large Skipper – Female

The males are darker in colour than the females with a distinctive black sexual mark or brand on the upper wings. The females have a lighter row of golden spots on the wings. Under-wings are a light brown or buff with small yellow patches.

Quick Information

Name:Large Skipper Butterfly (Ochlodes venata)
Family group: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Wingspan: around 34mm.
Caterpillars feed on: Grasses like, Cock’s foot, Purple Moor-Grass, Wood Small-Reed.
Adult Butterflies nectar on: Bramble flowers, Trefoils, Ox-eye Daisy
Photographed: top- 26th June 2010 : Left 3rd July 2011 : Right 14th July 2012
Locations: Southey Woods, Bedford Purlieus

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata) Male resting on Bramble leaf

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata) Male on Bramble leaf

Large Skipper butterflies may be found perched in a sunny position, on a tall wild flower or on a bramble leaf, leaving occasionally to feed quickly skipping from one flower to the next.

The males wait for passing females they are particularly territorial and will quickly chase away rival males, other Butterflies, Bees, Dragonflies, and just about any other insect that unknowingly strays into its territory.

The upper sides of the wings of both sexes of the Large Skipper are an eye catching golden yellow and brown.

Mating Large Skipper Butterflies, Bedford Purlieus

Mating Large Skippers 14th July

Browns – Nymphalidae

Choose a Family Group

Swallowtail
Papilionidae

Whites
Pierinae

Skippers
Hesperiidae

Browns
Nymphalidae

Blues
Lycaenidae

Browns Family group – Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae are a family of butterflies which includes species more commonly known as “Browns” and “Fritillaries”. There are 22 species of “Browns” that can be found in Britain, some like the Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, and Speckled Wood are fairly widespread throughout the UK, often seen in many Gardens, Parks, Hedgerows and Woodland.
Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa)	Comma (Polygonia c-album)	Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)	Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia)	Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)	Meadow Brown (Maniola-jurtina)	Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)	Peacock (Inachis io)	Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)	Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)	Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)	Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)	Small Tortoiseshell (aglais urticae)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)	White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)	Wall Brown (Pararge aegeria)
Fritillaries
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)	Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)	Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)	High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe)
Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)	Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)	Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)	Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)

© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2013

Brown Argus Butterfly (Aricia agestis)

Found widely across Southern and Central England and Wales, the Brown Argus is a small butterfly, most often found on chalk or limestone grassland, where the common rock-rose, a wildflower on which the caterpillar feeds is present.

Brown Argus butterflies are found in small groups or colonies, and emerge from two broods each season, the first brood emerging early May-June, and the second in late July. Although appearing to be quite active during warm sunny weather each individual very rarely strays above a few meters from where it first emerged.

Brown Argus Butterfly (Aricia agestis) - May - Dunstable Downs

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) – Dunstable Downs – 2012

Quick Info

Family Group: Lycaenidae.
Subfamily: Lycaeninae.
Status: UK resident
Habitat: Grassy meadows and downs, tracks, old quarries.
Wingspan: around 25mm.
Larvae feed on: Common Rock-rose, Common stork’s-bill.
Photographed: Top – 2nd June Barnack 2011 – Left – 27th May 2012 Dunstable Downs – Right- Bloody Oaks Quarry
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

The upper-wings are mostly brown with orange crescents and white fringe on the outer margins of the fore and hind-wings.

The undersides of the wings at a glance are similar in colour and patten to the common blue, brownish grey with black spots and orange crescents around the outer margins, although there are quite obvious differences once they are pointed out.

The Brown Argus despite it’s colour and name is part of the Lycaenidae Group of butterflies, more commonly known as “Blues”. In Britain this group of species includes:- the “Common Blue”, “Large Blue”, “Silver-Studded Blue”, and the smallest of all British butterflies the “Small Blue”, to name but a few.

Brown Argus butterflies male and female mating

Brown Argus male and female

Shrubs and Plants for a Butterfly Garden

Creating a butterfly garden

Creating a butterfly garden, or a garden for wildlife, can be done by choosing nectar rich plants and shrubs. These will attract butterflies, moths, bees and other beneficial insects to visit even the smallest of gardens. Planted and placed in a warm sheltered spot, they can be grown in the ground, in Patio pots, troughs, old buckets or washing-up bowls.

Habitat Loss

The loss of wildflower meadows, hedgerows, woodlands and the over use of chemicals in the countryside by intensive farming, has seriously effected the numbers of our butterfly species, creating a butterfly garden can help reverse this decline for some of our butterflies.

Choosing Plants

When choosing a selection of plants, if possible choose a mixture of both native wildflowers and cultivated varieties. These types of plants are often referred to as herbaceous perennials, biennials or cottage garden flowers they are usually colourful easy to grow and require little maintenance. Shrubs like Buddleia are also easy maintenance and a magnet for summer garden butterflies.

Peacock Butterfly, April Blackthorn Blossom

Peacock Butterfly, on Blackthorn Blossom in early Spring

Orange-tip Butterfly on wildflowering violets in early Spring

Orange-tip Butterfly on Violet Flower

There are many species of Native plants some of which are generally considered by gardeners as common weeds such as dandelions, buttercups, and daises. These hardy wild perennials are probably some of the earliest wild flowering plants and play an important role in early spring and will often continue to flower late into autumn.

Will butterflies breed in my garden?

If Peacock, Comma, or Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are visitors to your garden you can encourage them to breed by planting some Nettles. The Nettles are best planted in a tub or trough then buried in the ground, this will stop them from spreading around the garden. Carefully choose a sunny position near nectar plants, female butterflies can be quite fussy where they lay their precious eggs.

Why Early Flowering Plants so important to wildlife?

Spring flowering plants and shrubs provide a welcome nectar source, for butterflies, moths, bees and other insects awakening from winter hibernation. Butterflies like the Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshells and Brimstone will all benefit from a selection of well chosen plants in a carefully planned butterfly garden.