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.
Where are they found (in Britain and Ireland)?
England, Wales and southern Scotland. Not in Ireland.
What is their preferred habitat outside gardens?
Large skippers like tall grassland and can be found in sheltered areas where the grasses remain uncut such as woodland rides and clearings, meadows, pastures and roadside verges. They are also found in urban sites like parks and churchyards, provided there are patches of long undisturbed grass.
Resident or migrant?
Resident
When to see them?
Adults start to appear in late May or early June, with peak numbers in July. There is only one brood per year and they are unlikely to be seen after late August. Males are strongly territorial and are often seen perching in a sunny position or patrolling their territory.
What happens in winter?
Large skippers can spend almost a year as caterpillars and overwinter part way through this stage of their lifecycle. After emerging from their eggs, they moult four times before entering hibernation and the fifth instar spins a tube from grass blades and silk in which to shelter throughout winter.
What does the caterpillar look like?
The first caterpillars are tiny (around 2mm length) and a pale-yellow colour. They become bigger and darker with each instar, ending up as fairly large dark green caterpillars with prominent heads.
Large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
Family: Hesperiidae
What do they look like?
Although larger than the small skipper, these are still relatively small butterflies with wingspan about 33mm in the male and 35mm in the female.
The upper wings are a bright golden-orange in the centre with darker shading towards the margins. As in the small skipper, the males have a scent brand as a thin black line running through the centre of their forewings. The undersides of the wings are a paler greenish-orange with yellow spots.
Like other skipper butterflies they often rest moth-like with wings folded to their sides rather than over their back.
What do the caterpillars eat?
Their foodplants are native grasses, primarily cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata. False brome Brachypodium sylvaticum is also used as well as other species of grasses.1.
Large skippers are one of several species that benefit from uncut grasses over winter as the caterpillars stay in their tubes made from grass blades until the spring.
Flowers they take nectar from
How are they doing?
The population appears to be slightly declining. The 2022 State of UK butterflies report shows a 23% decrease in large skipper numbers from 1976, which is a further decrease from the 2015 report (17%) but neither of these were statistically significant. Although still widespread the distribution has decreased recently, probably related to“tidying up” of rough grassy areas and roadside verges.
Other interesting facts
This species was previously called Ochlodes venata and you will find that name in older books.
The caterpillars defend themselves from parasites and predators by making a tube out of leaves, and they only emerge from this to feed. This behaviour is common to other skipper caterpillars (and a few other species) and these leaf sheltering species generally have a propulsive mechanism to eject their faecal waste large distances, often many times their body length. This was originally thought due to evolutionary pressure on hygiene as caterpillars with excreta in their shelters would be more likely to succumb to infections. However, recent research has suggested an alternative hypothesis – firing waste out of the shelters prevents predators from being alerted to the caterpillars’ presence.4.
References
3. State of UK Butterflies
report
4. Weiss, Martha (2003) Good housekeeping: why do shelter-dwelling caterpillars fling their frass? Ecology Letters
6:361-370 available
here.
Page written by Judy Skinner, reviewed and compiled by Steve Head
Large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
Family: Hesperiidae
What do they look like?
Although larger than the small skipper, these are still relatively small butterflies with wingspan about 31mm in the male and 34mm in the female.
The upper wings are a bright golden-orange in the centre with darker shading towards the margins. As in the small skipper, the males have a scent brand as a thin black line running through the centre of their forewings. The undersides of the wings are a paler greenish-orange with yellow spots.
Like other skipper butterflies they often rest moth-like with wings folded to their sides rather than over their back.
Where are they found (in Britain and Ireland)?
England, Wales and southern Scotland. Not in Ireland.
What is their preferred habitat outside gardens?
Large skippers like tall grassland and can be found in sheltered areas where the grasses remain uncut such as woodland rides and clearings, meadows, pastures and roadside verges. They are also found in urban sites like parks and churchyards, provided there are patches of long undisturbed grass.
Resident or migrant?
Resident
When to see them?
Adults start to appear in late May or early June, with peak numbers in July. There is only one brood per year and they are unlikely to be seen after late August. Males are strongly territorial and are often seen perching in a sunny position or patrolling their territory.
What happens in winter?
Large skippers can spend almost a year as caterpillars and overwinter part way through this stage of their lifecycle. After emerging from their eggs, they moult four times before entering hibernation and the fifth instar spins a tube from grass blades and silk in which to shelter throughout winter.
What does the caterpillar look like?
The first caterpillars are tiny (around 2mm length) and a pale-yellow colour. They become bigger and darker with each instar, ending up as fairly large dark green caterpillars with prominent heads.
What do the caterpillars eat?
Their foodplants are native grasses, primarily cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata. False brome Brachypodium sylvaticum is also used as well as other species of grasses.1.
Large skippers are one of several species that benefit from uncut grasses over winter as the caterpillars stay in their tubes made from grass blades until the spring.
Flowers they take nectar from
How are they doing?
The population appears to be slightly declining. The 2022 State of UK butterflies report shows a 23% decrease in large skipper numbers from 1976, which is a further decrease from the 2015 report (17%) but neither of these were statistically significant. Although still widespread the distribution has decreased recently, probably related to“tidying up” of rough grassy areas and roadside verges.
Other interesting facts
This species was previously called Ochlodes venata and you will find that name in older books.
The caterpillars defend themselves from parasites and predators by making a tube out of leaves, and they only emerge from this to feed. This behaviour is common to other skipper caterpillars (and a few other species) and these leaf sheltering species generally have a propulsive mechanism to eject their faecal waste large distances, often many times their body length. This was originally thought due to evolutionary pressure on hygiene as caterpillars with excreta in their shelters would be more likely to succumb to infections. However, recent research has suggested an alternative hypothesis – firing waste out of the shelters prevents predators from being alerted to the caterpillars’ presence.4.
References
3. State of UK Butterflies report
4. Weiss, Martha (2003) Good housekeeping: why do shelter-dwelling caterpillars
fling their frass? Ecology Letters 6:361-370 available here.
Page written by Judy Skinner, reviewed and compiled by Steve Head