UK Butterflies

The butterfly families of the UK

• The Swallowtails (one native species) • The Whites and Yellows (seven native species) • The Coppers, Hairstreaks and Blues (fifteen native species) • The Browns, Fritillaries, Admirals and Tortoiseshells (twenty six native species) • The Metalmarks (one native species) • The Skippers (eight native species)

Swallowtail

Flight Period: Late May – Early July
Food Plant: Milk Parsley (grows in reed beds)
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: The Norfolk Broads (e.g. Strumpshaw Fen RSPB Reserve)

Large White

Flight Period: Late April – Late September (two generations)
Food Plant: Brassicas (e.g. Cabbage) and Nasturtium
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Any garden growing brassicas or Nasturtium

Small White

Flight Period: Early April – Early October (two generations)
Food Plant: Brassicas (e.g. Cabbage), Nasturtium, Crucifers (e.g. Garlic Mustard)
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Any garden growing brassicas or Nasturtium

Green Veined White

Flight Period: Early April – Early October (two generations)
Food Plant: Crucifers (e.g. Garlic Mustard, Cuckooflower and Charlock)
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Damp meadows in the wider countryside

Wood White

Flight Period: Mid May – End of June
Food Plant: Legumes (e.g. Meadow Vetchling, Tuberous Pea, Tufted Vetch)
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Woodland rides in Northamptonshire (e.g. Salcey Forest) and Worcestershire (e.g. Monk Wood)

Orange Tip

Flight Period: Early April – Mid June
Food Plant: Garlic Mustard or Cuckooflower
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Gardens or damp meadows

Brimstone

Flight Period: Early March – Mid June. Also July – October
Food Plant: Common Buckthorn or Alder Buckthorn
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes, occasionally
Best Place to see it: Woodland rides, hedgerows in the wider countryside

Clouded Yellow

Flight Period: Mid May – Mid June. Also Early August – Mid October
Food Plant: Lucerne. Also clover and Birds Foot Trefoil
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Possibly, in explosion years on migration
Best Place to see it: Southbourne cliffs, near Bournemouth, Dorset

Brown Argus

Flight Period: Late April – Late June. Also Mid July – Mid September
Food Plant: Common Rock Rose
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: The Peak District (e.g. Great Longstone Edge)

Northern Brown Argus

Flight Period: Early June – Late August
Food Plant: Common Rock Rose
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Castle Eden Dene Quarry (County Durham) and Arnside Knott (Lake District)

Small Blue

Flight Period: Mid May – Late June
Food Plant: Kidney Vetch
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Totternhoe Knolls (near Dunstable) and other isolated colonies in southern UK

Holly Blue

Flight Period: Late March – Early June. Also Early July – Mid September
Food Plant: Holly (in spring), Ivy (in summer)
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Most medium or large gardens with Holly and Ivy

Large Blue

Flight Period: Mid June – Mid July
Food Plant: Wild Thyme
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Collard Hill (Gloucestershire)

Silver Studded Blue

Flight Period: Late June – Mid August
Food Plant: Heather, Gorse, Birds Foot Trefoil, Common Rock Rose and Horseshoe Vetch
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Great Orme, Llandudno (North Wales). Also Prees Heath (Shropshire)

Common Blue

Flight Period: Early May – Late June. Also Mid July – Mid September
Food Plant: Birds Foot Trefoil
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Many places in the wider countryside with Birds Foot Trefoil

Adonis Blue

Flight Period: Mid May – Late June. Also Early August – Mid September
Food Plant: Horseshoe Vetch
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Martin Down National Nature Reserve (near Salisbury)

Chalkhill Blue

Flight Period: Early July – Late August
Food Plant: Horseshoe Vetch
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it Martin Down National Nature Reserve (near Salisbury)

Brown Hairstreak

Flight Period: Late July – Mid September
Food Plant: Blackthorn
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Chambers Farm Wood in Lincolnshire

Purple Hairstreak

Flight Period: Early July – Late August
Food Plant: Oak
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Ladybower Wood, near Ladybower Inn, Peak District

Green Hairstreak

Flight Period: Late April – Late June
Food Plant: Gorse, Bilberry, Broom
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Peak District (e.g. Coombs Dale near Great Longstone and also the western slopes of Ladybower Tor and White Tor, above Ladybower)

White Letter Hairstreak

Flight Period: Late June – Late July
Food Plant: Elm
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: The Chelsea Road Elm Tree!!!

Black Hairstreak

Flight Period: Late June – Early July
Food Plant: Blackthorn
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire Woodlands (e.g. Glapthorn Cow Pastures)

Duke of Burgundy

Flight Period: Late April – Late June
Food Plant: Cowslip and Primrose
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Many sites in Sussex. Also Totternhoe Knolls, near Dunstable.

Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Flight Period: Mid April – Late June
Food Plant: Violet species
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Eyarth Rocks, near Ruthin in North Wales

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Flight Period Mid May – Late June
Food Plant Dog Violet or Marsh Violet
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire. Also coastal path near Criccieth in North Wales

Silver Washed Fritillary

Flight Period: Late June – Late August
Food Plant: Oaks with Common Dog Violet’s nearby
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Woods at the back of Witherslack Hall in the Lake District. Also Finemere Wood near Aylesbury

Dark Green Fritillary

Flight Period: Early June – Late August
Food Plant: Violet species
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Peak District (e.g. Coombs Dale near Great Longstone) or North Nottinghamshire (Lindrick Common)

High Brown Fritillary

Flight Period: Mid June – Mid August
Food Plant: Leaf litter near Violet species
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Arnside Knott (Lake District)

Marsh Fritillary

Flight Period: Mid May – Early July
Food Plant: Devils Bit Scabious or Small Scabious
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Chambers Farm Wood, Lincolnshire

Glanville Fritillary

Flight Period: Mid May – Late June
Food Plant: Ribwort Plantain
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Isle of Wight sea cliffs

Heath Fritillary

Flight Period: Late May – Late July
Food Plant: Common Cow Wheat
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: North Devon hillsides (e.g. Heddon Valley) or Essex/Kent woodlands (eg East Blean Woods)

Purple Emperor

Flight Period: Late June – Early August
Food Plant: Sallow
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Fermyn Woods (Northamptonshire) or Knepp Estate (West Sussex)

White Admiral

Flight Period: Mid June – Mid August
Food Plant: Wild Honeysuckle
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Fermyn Woods (Northamptonshire)

Red Admiral

Flight Period: Late February – Late October (Two generations)
Food Plant: Nettle
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Most gardens, but large nettle patches in “waste” ground nearby helps

Painted Lady

Flight Period: Early May – Late June. Also Mid July – End of September
Food Plant: Thistle
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Sometimes (particularly in explosion years)
Best Place to see it: Pretty much anywhere, but fields of Thistles may be best

Peacock

Flight Period: Late January – Late May. Also Early July – Late October
Food Plant: Nettle
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Most gardens, but large nettle patches in “waste” ground nearby helps

Small Tortoiseshell

Flight Period: Late January – Early May. Also Late June – Late October
Food Plant: Nettle
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Most gardens, but large nettle patches in “waste” ground nearby helps

Comma

Flight Period: Early March – Mid May. Also Mid June – Late August. Also Mid September – Late October
Food Plant : Hop, Nettle, Elm
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Most gardens

Small Copper

Flight Period: Mid April – Early June. Also Mid July – Late August
Food Plant: Common Sorrell or Sheep’s Sorrell
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes, occasionally
Best Place to see it: Short grassland meadows with Sorrell

Wall

Flight Period: Late April – Late June. Also Mid July – Early September
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Lower slopes of Ladybower Tor near Ladybower Reservoir

Speckled Wood

Flight Period: Early April – Late May. Also late June – Mid September
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Shaded woodland or wooded gardens anywhere

Scotch Argus

Flight Period: Late July – Late August
Food Plant: Purple Moor-grass or Blue Moor-grass
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Arnside Knott in the Lake District

Ringlet

Flight Period: Mid June – Mid August
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes, occasionally
Best Place to see it: Peak District grassland

Meadow Brown

Flight Period: Early June – Late August
Food Plant: Most grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Grassy meadows all over the countryside

Gatekeeper

Flight Period: Early July – Late August
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Parks and large gardens with grassy meadows and the wider countryside

Marbled White

Flight Period: Mid June – Mid August
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Lindrick Common, North Nottinghamshire

Grayling

Flight Period: Early July – Late August
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Great Orme (near Llandudno), North Wales

Large Heath

Flight Period: Mid June – Late July
Food Plant: Cotton Grass species
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Lowland heath, at Thorne Moors, near Doncaster

Small Heath

Flight Period: Mid May – Late June. Also Early August – Mid September
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Various short meadows in the Peak District

Dingy Skipper

Flight Period: Late April – Late June
Food Plant: Birds Foot Trefoil
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Brierley Wood, near Dronfield

Grizzled Skipper

Flight Period: Early April – Mid June
Food Plant: Wild Strawberry, Creeping Cinquefoil
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Calke Abbey, south of Derby

Chequered Skipper

Flight Period: Late May – Mid June
Food Plant: Purple Moor grass
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: West Scotland (near Fort William). Also new release site in Rockingham Forest (Northamptonshire)

Essex Skipper

Flight Period Early June – Late August
Food Plant Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it Chambers Farm Wood (Lincolnshire). Also North Nottinghamshire (Eakring)

Small Skipper

Flight Period: Mid June – Mid August
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Various grassy meadows in the Peak District

Lulworth Skipper

Flight Period: Late May – Late July
Food Plant: Tor grass
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Dorset coastal hillsides (e.g. Lulworth Cove)

Silver Spotted Skipper

Flight Period: Late July – Late August
Food Plant: Sheep’s Fescue grass
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? No
Best Place to see it: Chalk hillside meadows in Southern England (e.g. Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve, Chilterns)

Large Skipper

Flight Period: Late May – Early August
Food Plant: Various fine wild grasses
Can it be seen in Nether Edge & Sharrow? Yes
Best Place to see it: Various grassy meadows in the Peak District