July

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

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