Small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- Resident, rough grassland, common
- Adults: June-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus
- Range: England and Wales north to Scottish border
- Status since 1970's : slight increase
Large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
- Resident, tall grassland
- Adults: May-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses especially cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: Southern Britain, extending northwards
- Status since 1970's : 12% decrease
Common blue Polyommatus icarus
- Resident
- Adults: 2 broods, May and October
- Larval foodplants: birds-foot treioil Lotus corniculatus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 17% decrease
Holly blue Celastrina argiolus
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: 2 broods, late March/April August/September
- Larval foodplants: 1st brood holly Ilex aquifolium 2nd brood ivy Hedera helix
- Range: Southern Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% increase
Small copper Lycaena phlaeas
- Resident, rare now in gardens
- Adults: up to 4 broods April to November
- Larval foodplants: sorrels Rumex acetosa and R. acetosella
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% decline
Brown argus Aricia agestis
- Resident, rare in gardens
- Adults: 2-3 broods May to Sept.
- Larval foodplants: common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium
- Range: southern-eastern Britain, coastal Wales
- Status since 2005 : 2% increase, range increasing
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering individuals in April, offspring in August
- Larval foodplants: buckthorns Frangulus aldus & Rhamnus catharcticus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 14% increase, range increasing
Large (cabbage) white Pieris brassicae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/May, July/August
- Larval foodplants: brassicas, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range:All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 30% decrease but still abundant
Small (cabbage) white Pieris rapae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: crucifers, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 25% decrease but still common
Green-veined white Pieris napi
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: charlock Sinapis arvensis, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 72% increase
Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines
- Resident, quite common in gardens
- Adults: 1 broods, April/June
- Larval foodplants: cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 59% increase
- Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta Common
- Adults: Migrants from May, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 257% increase
Painted lady Vanessa cardui
- Summer migrant, often common
- Adults: Migrants from April, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: thistles. common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 113% increase
Peacock, Inachis io
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 17% increase
Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from July to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 73% decrease
Comma Polygonia c-album
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Second brood eggs laid June to August, adults September to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All England and Wales, now southern Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 150% increase, range extending north
Speckled wood Pararge aegeria
- Resident, woodland habitat
- Adults: 2 broods April/May, June to October
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent southern and central Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 84% increase
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- Resident, woodland edge habitat
- Adults: 1 brood June to August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent north western Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 381% increase, range extending
Wall Lasiommata megera
- Resident, now mainly in coastal areas
- Adults: 2 broods April/June August/September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp and others
- Range: England and Wales, coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 87% decrease, range reducing.
- BAP species
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- Resident, hedgerows, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grass, bents Agrostis spp, fescues Festuca spp
- Range: Southern & central England and Wales, south coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 41% decrease
Meadow brown Maniola jurtina
- Resident, grassy habitats, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970s: stable
Small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- Resident, rough grassland, common
- Adults: June-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus
- Range: England and Wales north to Scottish border
- Status since 1970's : slight increase
Large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
- Resident, tall grassland
- Adults: May-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses especially cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: Southern Britain, extending northwards
- Status since 1970's : 12% decrease
Common blue Polyommatus icarus
- Resident
- Adults: 2 broods, May and October
- Larval foodplants: birds-foot treioil Lotus corniculatus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 17% decrease
Holly blue Celastrina argiolus
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: 2 broods, late March/April August/September
- Larval foodplants: 1st brood holly Ilex aquifolium 2nd brood ivy Hedera helix
- Range: Southern Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% increase
Small copper Lycaena phlaeas
- Resident, rare now in gardens
- Adults: up to 4 broods April to November
- Larval foodplants: sorrels Rumex acetosa and R. acetosella
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% decline
Brown argus Aricia agestis
- Resident, rare in gardens
- Adults: 2-3 broods May to Sept.
- Larval foodplants: common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium
- Range: southern-eastern Britain, coastal Wales
- Status since 2005 : 2% increase, range increasing
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering individuals in April, offspring in August
- Larval foodplants: buckthorns Frangulus aldus & Rhamnus catharcticus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 14% increase, range increasing
Large (cabbage) white Pieris brassicae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/May, July/August
- Larval foodplants: brassicas, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range:All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 30% decrease but still abundant
Small (cabbage) white Pieris rapae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: crucifers, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 25% decrease but still common
Green-veined white Pieris napi
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: charlock Sinapis arvensis, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 72% increase
Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines
- Resident, quite common in gardens
- Adults: 1 broods, April/June
- Larval foodplants: cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 59% increase
- Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta Common
- Adults: Migrants from May, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 257% increase
Painted lady Vanessa cardui
- Summer migrant, often common
- Adults: Migrants from April, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: thistles. common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 113% increase
Peacock, Inachis io
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 17% increase
Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from July to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 73% decrease
Comma Polygonia c-album
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Second brood eggs laid June to August, adults September to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All England and Wales, now southern Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 150% increase, range extending north
Speckled wood Pararge aegeria
- Resident, woodland habitat
- Adults: 2 broods April/May, June to October
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent southern and central Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 84% increase
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- Resident, woodland edge habitat
- Adults: 1 brood June to August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent north western Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 381% increase, range extending
Wall Lasiommata megera
- Resident, now mainly in coastal areas
- Adults: 2 broods April/June August/September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp and others
- Range: England and Wales, coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 87% decrease, range reducing.
- BAP species
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- Resident, hedgerows, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grass, bents Agrostis spp, fescues Festuca spp
- Range: Southern & central England and Wales, south coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 41% decrease
Meadow brown Maniola jurtina
- Resident, grassy habitats, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970s: stable
Biology
Butterflies are day-flying insects that are active from spring to autumn. They visit flowers in order to feed on nectar. Many garden flowers are attractive to them, particularly those growing in warm sheltered places. The larval stages feed mainly on the foliage of various plants. The large and small cabbage whites eat the foliage of cultivated plants, such as cabbage, other brassicas and nasturtiums. Other British butterflies have caterpillars that feed on forest trees or wild flowers, including nettles and grasses.
Species that come to Britain as migrants include red admiral Vanessa atalanta, painted lady Vanessa cardui and less commonly in gardens, the clouded yellow, Colias croceus. The numbers that cross the Channel or North Sea can vary considerably from year to year. Those that arrive early enough are able to breed in Britain but they do not usually survive the winter. Climate change may change this, as in the case of the red admiral,
Life cycle
After mating, female butterflies deposit eggs on plants suitable for their larvae. Some butterflies lay eggs singly over many plants, while others lays eggs in clusters on a few plants. The caterpillars feed on the foliage or flower buds of their food plants. When fully fed, the caterpillars often wander away from their food plants before selecting somewhere to pupate. Most butterfly caterpillars pupate above ground level. They do not enclose themselves in a silk cocoon but silk threads are used to attach the pupa or chrysalis to a plant stem or fence.
Most butterflies overwinter as pupae but some species overwinter as eggs or larvae. The comma, brimstone, peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies overwinter in sheltered places as adults. The last two mentioned sometimes hibernate in garden sheds and garages. Most species have one generation a year but some have two or sometimes three.
What do they look like?
The males have bright yellow upper wings and are very noticeable when flying. By contrast the females have very pale greenish upper wings and could be mistaken for large white butterflies on a quick glance. Brimstone butterflies always feed or rest with their wings closed and can then be mistaken for leaves as the undersides of their wings are green (although much paler in the females). Both sexes have a small orange spot in the middle of each wing. They are powerful fliers and very active.
Where are they found (in Britain and Ireland)
All Britain and Ireland, although they are much less common in Scotland.
What is their preferred habitat outside gardens?
Brimstones are a familiar sight in gardens but are also found in many other rural and urban habitats including woodland rides, grasslands, hedgerows, parks and roadside verges.
Resident or migrant?
Resident
When to see them?
These are long-lived butterflies and can theoretically be seen throughout the year although peak times are in spring and late summer. There is only one brood per year with the new adults emerging from their pupae in August.
What happens in winter?
They overwinter as adults, hibernating among leaves throughout the winter. The adult butterflies come out of hibernation in spring – sometimes as early as March or February – and can last until July, even overlapping with a few new brood adults.
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
Family: Pieridae
What do the caterpillars eat?
The primary foodplants are buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and alder buckthorn Frangula alnus.1. The caterpillars eat away at the leaves and this can reveal their presence even though they are well camouflaged, being the same colour as the leaves.
Flowers they take nectar from
New brood adults prefer purple and nectar-rich flowers such as
thistles and devil's-bit scabious whereas adults coming out of hibernation in the spring use a variety of available flowers, such as
dandelions,
primroses,
cowslips, bugle and bluebells.
How are they doing?
The population of brimstone butterflies seems roughly stable at present with the 2022 State of UK butterflies report showing a non-significant increase in numbers (22%) but a slight decrease in distribution (4%) since 1976.
Other interesting facts
As well as being the longest-lived adult UK butterfly, the brimstone is one of our most mobile, often wandering long distances in search of the buckthorn larval foodplants.
References
3. State of UK butterflies report
2022
Page written by Judy Skinner, reviewed and compiled by Steve Head
What do the early stages look like?
The eggs are tall and skittle-shaped, laid singly under young buckthorn leaves. The early caterpillars are a pale yellow-green and about 2mm long. They grow quickly, going through four moults in about a month, becoming larger, darker green and with black tubercules over their bodies.
The pupa is an odd shape, suspended from a plant stem by a silk pad and silk girdle. Pupation occurs a few days after the fourth moult (fifth stage) and approximately two weeks later the adults emerge.
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
Family: Pieridae
What do they look like?
The males have bright yellow upper wings and are very noticeable when flying. By contrast the females have very pale greenish upper wings and could be mistaken for large white butterflies on a quick glance. Brimstone butterflies always feed or rest with their wings closed and can then be mistaken for leaves as the undersides of their wings are green (although much paler in the females). Both sexes have a small orange spot in the middle of each wing. They are powerful fliers and very active.
Where are they found (in Britain and Ireland)
All Britain and Ireland, although they are much less common in Scotland.
What is their preferred habitat outside gardens?
Brimstones are a familiar sight in gardens but are also found in many other rural and urban habitats including woodland rides, grasslands, hedgerows, parks and roadside verges.
Resident or migrant?
Resident
When to see them?
These are long-lived butterflies and can theoretically be seen throughout the year although peak times are in spring and late summer. There is only one brood per year with the new adults emerging from their pupae in August.
What happens in winter?
They overwinter as adults, hibernating among leaves throughout the winter. The adult butterflies come out of hibernation in spring – sometimes as early as March or February – and can last until July, even overlapping with a few new brood adults.
What do the caterpillars eat?
The primary foodplants are buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and alder buckthorn Frangula alnus.1. The caterpillars eat away at the leaves and this can reveal their presence even though they are well camouflaged, being the same colour as the leaves.
Flowers they take nectar from
New brood adults prefer purple and nectar-rich flowers such as thistles and devil's-bit scabious whereas adults coming out of hibernation in the spring use a variety of available flowers, such as dandelions, primroses, cowslips, bugle and bluebells.
How are they doing?
The population of brimstone butterflies seems roughly stable at present with the 2022 State of UK butterflies report showing a non-significant increase in numbers (22%) but a slight decrease in distribution (4%) since 1976.
Other interesting facts
As well as being the longest-lived adult UK butterfly, the brimstone is one of our most mobile, often wandering long distances in search of the buckthorn larval foodplants.
References
3. State of UK butterflies report 2022
Page written by Judy Skinner, reviewed and compiled by Steve Head
What do the early stages look like?
The eggs are tall and skittle-shaped, laid singly under young buckthorn leaves. The early caterpillars are a pale yellow-green and about 2mm long. They grow quickly, going through four moults in about a month, becoming larger, darker green and with black tubercules over their bodies.
The pupa is an odd shape, suspended from a plant stem by a silk pad and silk girdle. Pupation occurs a few days after the fourth moult (fifth stage) and approximately two weeks later the adults emerge.