Orange

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

Lively and brightly coloured, the Small Copper Butterfly can be found throughout the UK, apart from the far north of Scotland.The Small Copper Butterfly can be seen flying from May-September, they are usually found in open grassy areas such as, Meadows, Waste ground, Heathland and Woodland Rides, where they enjoy basking in warm sunshine, often on the heads of wildflowers or a bare patch of earth.

Upper-wings are Bright Copper or orange with black spotted markings with a dark brown fringe on the fore-wings .

Under-wings are similar to upper-wings but light brown instead of dark brown.

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

Small Copper Butterfly

Information

Family Group: Lycaenidae – Blues.
Habitat: Meadows, Waste ground, Heathland and Woodland Rides.
On the wing: May-September
Wingspan: approx 25mm.
Larvae feed on: Common Sorrel.
Photographed: 17th July 2010.
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes NNR.

Wall Brown Butterfly (Pararge aegeria)

A widely spread butterfly the Wall Brown is generally found in South Eastern and Western counties of Britain, where, it may be seen patrolling its territory or basking in the sunshine on patches of open ground, tall plants and of course walls.

The adult Wall Brown emerge from two broods a season, to form small colonies, the first is May-June and a second slightly larger brood July-August.

The upper-wings are light orange with grey/brown veins and lines there are also a single black-eye spot on the fore-wings and of the hind-wings.

Wall Brown Butterfly Eye-Spots on Under-Wings

Wall Brown showing eye-spots on under-wings

Quick Info

Family Group: Browns – Nymphalidae
size around: 45mm
Habitat: Grassy heaths, Quarries and Coastal areas with exposed areas of earth, tracks and embankments
Adult Nectar Plant: Common Ragwort, Bramble flowers and Others.
Caterpillars feed on: Cocksfoot, Couch and other grasses
Photographed: 19th August, 2nd September, Wiveton Down, Norfolk.

Wall Brown Butterfly - Male - Wiverton Down

Wall Brown – Male

The Wall Brown is part of the Nymphalidae Group of butterflies, more commonly referred to as “Browns”, in Britain this group of species includes:- the Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, and the rare Purple Emperor, to name but a few.

It is so sad that this, once fairly common little butterfly, is in such decline across much of inland England and Wales, it is now found mainly around coastal regions.

Wall Brown Butterfly on Ragwort September

Wall Brown on Common Ragwort

Gatekeeper Butterfly (Pyronia tithonus)

A pretty orange and brown butterfly, the Gatekeeper is widespread and common across central and southern counties of the England and Wales, often seen in mid-summer basking in hedgerows in the warm summer sunshine, or feeding on nectar from Bramble Flowers, Wild Marjoram or Common Ragwort, although it will feed from many other plants as well.

Gatekeeper Butterfly on Gorse Bush, Kelling Heath, Norfolk

Quick Info

Family Group: Nymphalidae (Browns)
Also Known as: The Hedge Brown.
Habitat: Rough grassy places, Hedgerows, Woodland tracks, Heaths, Gardens and others.
Wingspan: Around 40mm, although the Female is larger than the Male.
Caterpillars feed on: Various grasses in May
Adult Butterflies nectar on: Bramble flowers, wild marjoram, Wood sage, Common Ragwort and others
Photo Location: Barnack NNR, Kelling Heath, Norfolk, My Garden
Photographed: 17th July 2010, above 27th July 2012

Gatekeeper Butterfly, Small Orange and Brown British Butterfly

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) Male – basking in sunshine

Adult Butterflies emerge July – August from just a single brood a season, each colony can vary greatly in size, depending on habitat and location.

The Gatekeeper is often found on rough grassland often close to hedgerows or groups of shrubs, such as woodland paths, Road-sides, Heaths and in Gardens,

The upper-wings are a mainly orange with brown margins on the fore and hind wings with circular eye spots on the fore-wings. The Male is easy to tell apart from the female by the sex brands separating the orange on the fore-wings.

Gatekeeper Butterfly (Pyronia tithonus) Female

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) Female

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Garden Weed or Wildflower

A bright orange or yellow flowering herbaceous perennial, the Dandelion is most often referred to as another garden weed, rather than a wildflower, due to its ability to turn up in lawns, borders, just about anywhere, able to tolerate most conditions and just about any type of soil.

When does it flower?

Flowering begins in March and runs through to October, each Dandelion plant often bears a number of singular flower heads, or florets, each with its own hollow stem from a central rosette of lobed leaves.

Being one of the earliest flowering nectar sources the Dandelion is an important plant for many early pollinating insects such as bees, as well as a several species of butterflies and moths. Butterflies like the Brimstone, Orange-Tip and Large White take advantage of this early nectar source (list will be updated).

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Seeds, also known as a “Clock”

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in flower

Seeds

After flowering, the Dandelion flower dries and after a few days opens out into a spherical structure or “clock”. Each seed is attached to fine hairs which act as a type of parachute which help distribute the mature seeds via the wind.

Beneficial Weed

Despite the Dandelion being known as just a garden weed, it is also a very beneficial plant, besides having many medicinal properties, being edible the leaves can be boiled and eaten, and are rich in essential vitamins and the flower petals are used in making Dandelion wine.

Plant Information

Name: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Group: Asteraceae
Type: Perennial
Similar appearance to: Cat’s Ear or false dandelion, Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Flowering: March to October.
Position: Full Sun.
Height: around 35cm
Larval food plant: Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa).
Nectar plant: Brimstone, Orange-Tip, Large White, Red Admiral
Photograph: 18th April

Small Heath Butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

The Small Heath is a widespread butterfly, it can often be found in many open areas such as meadows, railway embankments, heaths and other rough grassy places across the British Isles. It is also the smallest of the ‘brown’ group of Butterflies found in the Britain.

Small heath butterflies are well camouflaged in the grassy places where they are found, always resting with wings closed tilted towards the sun on a warm patch of ground or low down on grass stems. Easily disturbed they will often fly low to the ground, always landing with wings closed they may also tuck down the orange fore-wing if danger is close.

Quick Info

Family Group: Nymphalidae – Browns.
Wingspan around: 30mm.
Habitat: Meadows, Disused quarries, embankments, Waste ground, Hills and downs.
Adult Nectar Plant: Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Buttercups. (others will be added).
Photographed: June 16 2010.
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes (NNR)

Small Heath Butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Heath butterflies are double-brooded and can seen flying in greater numbers May-June and August-September, the caterpillars feed on grasses.

The under-side of the wings are always seen when landed, the fore-wing is most noticeable, being mainly orange with a prominent eye spot and a grey margin, the hind-wing is mainly brown with a grey margin . The upper-side of the wings are rarely seen except in flight and are orange-brown with grey margins with a small eye spot on the wing tips.