Skippers:  Family Hesperiidae
 
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
Blues and coppers: Family Lycaenidae
 
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
Whites: Family Pieridae
 
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
Vanessids Sub family Nymphalinae
  • 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
Browns Sub-family Satyrinae
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
 
Skippers:  Family Hesperiidae
 
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
Blues and coppers: Family Lycaenidae
 
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
Whites: Family Pieridae
 
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
Vanessids Sub family Nymphalinae
  • 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
Browns Sub-family Satyrinae
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 meadow brown is sometimes described as a drab or dull butterfly, which seems a little unfair on a butterfly that is so widespread, flies in all kinds of habitats and enters our gardens, let alone its contribution to science (see below). However, it is certainly less colourful than the gatekeeper, with which it often flies and is sometimes confused. The predominant colour on the upperwings is brown with a splash of orange on the forewings – this varies in size and intensity but is always larger and brighter in the female. Both sexes have a forewing eyespot near the top of the orange patch and again this is more prominent in the female. Males have a nearly black area of androconia towards the middle of the bottom of the forewing, but it doesn't stand out as a sex brand.
 
The undersides are similar in both: a two-tone brown hind wing and a forewing with an eyespot against an orange background. Females are more brightly coloured.   Small spots are sometimes present on the underwings but this is very variable.
 
The wingspan is between 40 and 55mm for males; 42 to 60mm for females.
 
Where are they found (in Britain and Ireland)
All Britain and Ireland, except high mountains and Shetland
 
What is their preferred habitat outside gardens?
As the name suggests the meadow brown likes grasslands such as hay meadows, downland, coastal dunes and cliffs but can be seen in almost any habitat including woodland, roadside verges, hedgerows, and waste ground.
 
Resident or migrant?
Resident
 
When to see them?
Although meadow browns are short-lived butterflies with only one brood per year, their emergence and overall flight period is quite protracted and they can be seen from May to September, depending on the weather. It is one of the few butterflies that will fly on dull, overcast days, even with light rain.
 
What happens in winter?
They overwinter as caterpillars hiding away in grass clumps but practise partial hibernation – emerging to feed whenever it is warm enough. There are five moults in total and they may even go through a moult during the winter if they have grown enough. Feeding starts again in earnest in spring and they enter pupation from May onwards. Some, however, mature quite slowly, pupating later and producing butterflies late in the flight period.
 
 
Meadow brown  Maniola jurtina   
Family: Nymphalidae    Subfamily: Satyrinae
 
What do the caterpillars eat?
As expected from such a common and widespread butterfly, a very wide range of native grasses are used as larval foodplants. Meadow-grasses Poa annua and other Poa species seem to be particularly preferred, along with bents (Agrostis spp), fescues (Festuca spp) and cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata.1.
 
Flowers they take nectar from
The butterflies feed primarily on knapweeds and thistles. Brambles, buttercups, common fleabane, devil's-bit scabious, hemp-agrimony, ragworts, selfheal, wild marjoram, wild privet, wild teasel and yarrow are also used.2. 
 
How are they doing?
It is thought to be the most abundant butterfly in Britain and the population seems stable. According to the 2022 State of UK butterflies report, meadow brown numbers are almost unchanged since 1976. There has been a contraction in its range in recent years but it is still extremely widespread.3.  They were the 11th most common garden species in a recent BTO analysis.4.
 
Other interesting facts
The meadow brown is one of the most studied butterflies in the world, used as a model for studying butterfly ecology and evolution. This is due to the extensive variations in the spot pattern of the under hindwings. A lot of research was carried out in the 20th century – much of it in the Scilly Isles – using the species to study how differences in the environment influence natural selection.5. However, this work was done before the era of molecular biology and now – using the techniques of genome analysis – a whole new chapter of meadow brown research looks likely to open.
 
 
References
 
1.  Biological Record Centre database
 
2.  UK butterflies website 
 
3.  State of UK Butterflies 2022 report
 
4. Plummer, K.E. et al (2024) Trends in butterfly populations in UK gardens—New evidence from citizen
science monitoring. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 17: 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12645
 
5.  eg: Creed, E., Dowdeswell, W., Ford, E. et al. (1962) Evolutionary studies on Maniola jurtina: The English Mainland, 1958–60. Heredity 17, 237–265. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1962.18
 
 
Page written by Judy Skinner, reviewed and compiled by Steve Head
 
What do the early stages look like?
 
The tubby eggs are light brown, laid on the grass leaves or close by. The early caterpillars are pale brown and tiny – less than 1.5 mm long. After starting to feed on grasses they turn green and stay this camouflage colour all through the larval stages. They also have many long hairs and become gradually more slug-shaped. Their final length is about 25mm. The pupa is found low down among the grass stems, attached to its shed larval skin.
 
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Meadow brown  Maniola jurtina   
Family: Nymphalidae  Subfamily: Satyrinae
What do they look like?
The meadow brown is sometimes described as a drab or dull butterfly, which seems a little unfair on a butterfly that is so widespread, flies in all kinds of habitats and enters our gardens, let alone its contribution to science (see below). However, it is certainly less colourful than the gatekeeper, with which it often flies and is sometimes confused. The predominant colour on the upperwings is brown with a splash of orange on the forewings – this varies in size and intensity but is always larger and brighter in the female. Both sexes have a forewing eyespot near the top of the orange patch and again this is more prominent in the female. Males have a nearly black area of androconia towards the middle of the bottom of the forewing, but it doesn't stand out as a sex brand.
 
The undersides are similar in both: a two-tone brown hind wing and a forewing with an eyespot against an orange background. Females are more brightly coloured.   Small spots are sometimes present on the underwings but this is very variable.
 
The wingspan is between 40 and 55mm for males; 42 to 60mm for females.
 
Where are they found (in Britain and Ireland)
All Britain and Ireland, except high mountains and Shetland
 
What is their preferred habitat outside gardens?
As the name suggests the meadow brown likes grasslands such as hay meadows, downland, coastal dunes and cliffs but can be seen in almost any habitat including woodland, roadside verges, hedgerows, and waste ground.
 
Resident or migrant?
Resident
 
When to see them?
Although meadow browns are short-lived butterflies with only one brood per year, their emergence and overall flight period is quite protracted and they can be seen from May to September, depending on the weather. It is one of the few butterflies that will fly on dull, overcast days, even with light rain.
 
What happens in winter?
They overwinter as caterpillars hiding away in grass clumps but practise partial hibernation – emerging to feed whenever it is warm enough. There are five moults in total and they may even go through a moult during the winter if they have grown enough. Feeding starts again in earnest in spring and they enter pupation from May onwards. Some, however, mature quite slowly, pupating later and producing butterflies late in the flight period.
 
 
What do the early stages look like?
 
The tubby eggs are light brown, laid on the grass leaves or close by. The early caterpillars are pale brown and tiny – less than 1.5 mm long. After starting to feed on grasses they turn green and stay this camouflage colour all through the larval stages. They also have many long hairs and become gradually more slug-shaped. Their final length is about 25mm. The pupa is found low down among the grass stems, attached to its shed larval skin.
 
 
What do the caterpillars eat?
As expected from such a common and widespread butterfly, a very wide range of native grasses are used as larval foodplants. Meadow-grasses Poa annua and other Poa species seem to be particularly preferred, along with bents (Agrostis spp), fescues (Festuca spp) and cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata.1.
 
Flowers they take nectar from
The butterflies feed primarily on knapweeds and thistles. Brambles, buttercups, common fleabane, devil's-bit scabious, hemp-agrimony, ragworts, selfheal, wild marjoram, wild privet, wild teasel and yarrow are also used.2. 
 
How are they doing?
It is thought to be the most abundant butterfly in Britain and the population seems stable. According to the 2022 State of UK butterflies report, meadow brown numbers are almost unchanged since 1976. There has been a contraction in its range in recent years but it is still extremely widespread.3.  They were the 11th most common garden species in a recent BTO analysis.4.
 
Other interesting facts
The meadow brown is one of the most studied butterflies in the world, used as a model for studying butterfly ecology and evolution. This is due to the extensive variations in the spot pattern of the under hindwings. A lot of research was carried out in the 20th century – much of it in the Scilly Isles – using the species to study how differences in the environment influence natural selection.5. However, this work was done before the era of molecular biology and now – using the techniques of genome analysis – a whole new chapter of meadow brown research looks likely to open.
 
 
References
 
1.  Biological Record Centre database
 
2.  UK butterflies website 
 
3.  State of UK Butterflies 2022 report
 
4. Plummer, K.E. et al (2024) Trends in butterfly populations in UK gardens—New evidence from citizen science monitoring. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 17: 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12645
 
5. eg: Creed, E., Dowdeswell, W., Ford, E. et al. Evolutionary studies on Maniola jurtina: The English Mainland, 1958–60. Heredity 17, 237–265 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1962.18
 
 
Page written by Judy Skinner, reviewed and compiled by Steve Head
 
       Garden Wildlife
             Garden Wildlife