White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
Silchester Common, Hampshire (all photos)
I'm not fortunate enough to be able to see this beautiful, powerful butterfly here in Derbyshire, but in the south of England it is a common sight in broadleaved woodland, where it is often seen feeding on brambles along sunny rides. The caterpillars feed on honeysuckle.
The White Admiral has a very wide distribution globally, being found as far away as Japan. In Britain, no other butterfly could be confused with it.
Bernwood Forest, Oxfordshire
The White Admiral has a very wide distribution globally, being found as far away as Japan. In Britain, no other butterfly could be confused with it.
Bernwood Forest, Oxfordshire
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Image coming soon!
One of the most familiar nymphalid butterflies to many in Britain, the Red Admiral is always a welcome sight and can be found almost anywhere in Britain and in almost any month depending on temperature.
The caterpillars feed on nettles and hatch into adults before hibernating through the winter.
The caterpillars feed on nettles and hatch into adults before hibernating through the winter.
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Matlock, Derbyshire
individual feeding on dung, Park Gate Down NNR, Kent
Numbers of this attractive species fluctuate greatly each year as numbers are boosted by migrants from as far away as Saharan Africa. Some years bring a huge influx of this species, roughly every ten years or so. All British butterflies are migrants - the species is not able to survive our cold winters and any remaining individuals die before spring.
Superficially, this species could be mistaken for the Small Tortoiseshell, but it lacks the fringe of iridescent blue spots and has far more white and black spots than that species.
Superficially, this species could be mistaken for the Small Tortoiseshell, but it lacks the fringe of iridescent blue spots and has far more white and black spots than that species.
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
Bonsall Moor, Derbyshire
Coombs Dale, Derbyshire
One of the most widespread British butterflies, this lovely creature has, nonetheless, declined in numbers in recent decades, like so many of its kin. In good years, it remains a familiar sight in gardens, where it can be approached closely while gorging itself on nectar.
Like some of our other common nymphalids, caterpillars feed on nettles and hatch into adult butterflies before entering hibernation.
Like some of our other common nymphalids, caterpillars feed on nettles and hatch into adult butterflies before entering hibernation.
Peacock (Inachis io)
Howe Ridding Wood NR, Cumbria
Gransden Woods, Cambridgeshire
caterpillars feeding on Stinging Nettle, Dry Sandford Pit NR, Oxfordshire
Often the first butterfly seen emerging on sunny, mild winter days, the Peacock is a powerful and exquisitely beautiful species. The rainbow of iridescent colours on its eye spots would not look out of place in the Amazon or some other exotic location, in my opinion.
The Peacock is a common resident all over Britain, and can be seen in just about any month of the year.
The Peacock is a common resident all over Britain, and can be seen in just about any month of the year.
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Text coming soon!
Duke of Burgundy (Hamaeris lucina)
Noar Hill, Hampshire
Britain's (and Europe's) only representative of a mainly tropical family of butterflies, the Duke of Burgundy is a very special butterfly to see. It suffered steep declines in the late 20th century but thankfully that trend seems to be reversing, although careful habitat management is needed to help colonies survive.
Calcareous grassland with plenty of cowslip and primrose is the minimum requirements for these little butterflies, although there are other requirements such as aspect and length of vegetation.
These butterflies were photographed at Noar Hill, one of its classic, long-established strongholds.
Calcareous grassland with plenty of cowslip and primrose is the minimum requirements for these little butterflies, although there are other requirements such as aspect and length of vegetation.
These butterflies were photographed at Noar Hill, one of its classic, long-established strongholds.